BRIEF ON IRAN
Special Edition
Monday, June 8, 1998
Representative Office of
The National Council of Resistance of Iran
Washington, DC

In Letter to Annan, Security Council Members, Rajavi Warns That Mullahs May Launch Terrorist Attacks, Iran Zamin News Agency, June 5

According to a statement by the National Council of Resistance of Iran, in a letter to the UN Secretary General, Mr. Kofi Annan, and members of the UN Security Council, Mr. Massoud Rajavi, President of the NCR, warned that the clerical regime in Iran may use the U.S. State Department's statement against the Iranian Resistance to launch further terrorist attacks or acts of aggression.

Mr. Rajavi stressed that the State Department's condemnation of the Mojahedin's attack on the mullahs' "Islamic Revolutionary Prosecutor's Office" and the Department's offer of condolences to executioners and torturers amounted to a clear ransom being paid to the leaders of "the most active state sponsor of terrorism" in the contemporary world.

Mr. Rajavi reiterated that no civilian and no ordinary citizen was in any way hurt in the Mojahedin operations. He said the U.S. State Department's recent statement would be interpreted by the ruling mullahs as a green light for launching further attacks on the Iranian Resistance's centers and also more terrorist assaults on Iranian dissidents outside the country.

 

State Department's Statement Emboldens Mullahs, Iran Zamin News Agency, June 6

In reaction to the U.S. State Department's statement against the Mojahedin's operations in Tehran, the regime's Foreign Ministry spokesman said yesterday: "The pursuit of terrorists who carry out terrorist operations against our citizens from a neighboring country is the legitimate right of Iran."

In a speech in Tehran yesterday, ex-President Rafsanjani welcomed the Department's position and said: "Inside our own country, we can sort out the problem of getting rid of mischief-making elements." A Mojahedin spokesman said Rafsanjani's remarks showed that the mullahs have interpreted the State Department's position as not merely a green light to carry out further terrorist attacks and acts of aggression outside Iran, but also as a go-ahead for more executions and suppression inside Iran.

 

Rafsanjani Calls On U.S. To Curb Mujahideen, Reuter, June 5

TEHRAN - Iran's former president said the United States should show its opposition to terrorism by clamping down on the Mujahideen Khalq.

"If the Americans honestly (condemn)...terrorism they should curb the activities of the MKO émigrés in the United States," Hashemi Rafsanjani said Thursday.

The Mujahideen office in Washington said in response that the U.S. State Department had adopted a dangerous policy of appeasement by condemning the bombing in Tehran.

"Their (the State Department's) position ... has so persuaded the criminals ruling in Iran that now they are asking the U.S. government to violate its own constitution," it said.

"Submitting to the mullahs' demand would be the biggest encouragement for terrorism," it added.

The Mujahideen argue that the courthouse was a legitimate target because the people who work there torture political prisoners.

 

Leaders Warn of "Counter-Revolution", Agence France Presse, June 2

TEHRAN - Iranian leaders appealed for national unity on Wednesday and told their people to beware of counter-revolution following a series of attacks over the past 24 hours.

"There are signs that the counter-revolution, foreign bandits and spies have revived their work," said powerful parliamentary speaker Ali-Akbar Nateq-Nuri.

Attacks come amid deep political divisions not seen since the revolution pitting conservative factions against those who support President Khatami.

"More than ever, we need unity in our ranks and coordination of all forces and factions, no matter what their leanings," said Nateq-Nuri,

 

Regime's Media React to June 2 Operations, Iran Zamin News Agency, June 7

Days after the Mojahedin operations in Tehran, the issue is still the focus of many commentaries and reports on the state-run media.

Tehran radio, June 6: "One must contemplate the political and social dimensions" of the June 2 operations in Tehran. It added: "Tuesday's attacks were undoubtedly designed... to attack the foundations of the Iranian people's beliefs."

Tehran Times, June 6: "The (Mojahedin) operations showed that our enemies are bent on delivering a serious blow to the Islamic Revolution." The paper urged all the factions of the clerical regime to unite "to fight enemy conspiracies."

Salam, June 6: "With these operations, the (Mojahedin) intended to show off their capabilities and superiority."
 

Back to Brief on Iran