Iran Sends More Spies to Europe, The Sunday Telegraph, May 4

IRAN is intensifying efforts to consolidate its network of terrorist cells and intelligence agents throughout Europe. As relations between Teheran and the European

Union degenerated into an undignified diplomatic slanging match last week, Iranian intelligence chiefs have given orders for reinforcements to be sent to embassies throughout Europe, including Britain.

Two Iranian agents working for Iran's intelligence ministry, one posing as an economic attaché, the other as a student, arrived in Britain at the end of last month.

Other agents have been sent to reinforce intelligence operations in Germany, Belgium, Italy, France and Cyprus. Iranian agents have also been sent to the United States and Russia. The mobilisation of Iranian agents follows the recent decision by Iran's Supreme Security Council, revealed in The Telegraph, to mount a "campaign of intimidation" against European governments. The council, which is chaired by President Hashemi Rafsanjani, ordered agents to organise demonstrations and mobilise terrorist cells throughout Europe.

The order to send intelligence reinforcements was taken in response to the worsening diplomatic crisis between Teheran and the EU following the recent German court ruling…

… The Iranian Embassy in Bonn serves as the nerve centre for Iran's intelligence and terrorist operations in Europe, as the evidence produced during the Berlin trial demonstrated. In an attempt to curb Iran's intelligence activities, the German authorities expelled four Iranian diplomats.

But, according to Western intelligence assessments, the Iranians still have their largest concentration of intelligence operatives based at the Bonn embassy….

 

Iran Paper Accuses British Diplomat of Being Spy, Reuter, May 5

DUBAI - A hardline Iranian newspaper on Monday accused Britain's top diplomat in Tehran of being a member of the British intelligence agency MI6….

The charges came amid a diplomatic row between Iran and the European Union after a German court accused Tehran leaders of ordering the 1992 killings of Kurdish dissidents in Berlin….

 

Primakov Denies Russia Message to Iran on EU Row, Reuter, May 5

STRASBOURG, France - Russian Foreign Minister Yevgeny Primakov denied on Monday that he had told Iran its relations with Moscow would not be affected by Tehran's row with the European Union.

"Russia made no statement to Iran on the actions of the EU relating to Iran," he told reporters after meeting EU ministers in Strasbourg….

Russia's state-owned Itar-Tass news agency on Sunday quoted Primakov as saying:

"Russia is firmly committed to friendly relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran." Tass said the statement was in a message delivered to Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Velayati….

  

As Sham Elections Near, Factional Infighting Escalates, Reuter, May 5

DUBAI - An Iranian election body said on Monday it would file charges against a state-funded newspaper for campaigning on behalf of a presidential candidate backed by supporters of outgoing President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani.

The body overseeing publicity in the May 23 election ruled that the daily Hamshahri, published by the Tehran municipality, had violated a law prohibiting state-funded papers from electioneering, state-run Tehran radio said.

Hamshahri had been accused by backers of a main conservative candidate, Parliament Speaker Ali Akbar Nateq-Nouri, of giving wide coverage to his leading rival, Mohammad Khatami.

The ruling was a blow to Khatami who has come under fire by hardline conservatives who have questioned his allegiance to Iran's Shi'ite Moslem clerical leadership and alleged that his campaign was backed by public funds….

 

Israeli Charged for Selling Chemical Arms to Mullahs, Associated Press, May 5

TEL AVIV, Israel - An Israeli millionaire was indicted Monday on charges of assisting an enemy nation and endangering Israeli security by selling chemical weapons components to Iran.

According to the indictment in Tel Aviv District Court, Nahum Manbar received $16 million for selling chemical materials to Iran that were used to make mustard and nerve gas….

In 1994, the U.S. State Department accused Manbar of violating a U.S. trade embargo against Iran and barred him from entering the United States, Israeli media reports said.

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