The following statement was issued yesterday by the Representative Office of the National Council of Resistance of Iran - Washington, DC, and is being released for your information.
Secretariat of the National Council of Resistance of Iran
July 28, 1998

Khatami advocates production and stockpiling of weapons of mass destruction

During the cabinet session last night, mullahs' President Mohammad Khatami lauded those involved in research, production and testing of Shahab-3 missile which has a range of 1,300 km. He said that production of these kinds of weapons was the "natural right" of the clerical regime.

He also stressed that the policy of "d'tente" which he has pronounced since becoming the president, must be separated from efforts to produce and stockpile weapons of mass destruction.

The National Council of Resistance's representative in the United States said: "The production of Shahab-3 missile, which is capable of carrying nuclear and chemical warheads, and Khatami's emphasis on continuing efforts in this respect unveil the regime's ominous fundamentalist and expansionist policies."

The NCR representative added: "The stockpiling of weapons of mass destruction, like the clerical regime's leaders' reaffirmation that the fatwa to murder Salman Rushdie cannot be revoked and the continuing execution of opponents and members of religious minorities demonstrate the extent to which the policy of "d'tente" championed by Khatami and propaganda by some Western circles about the moderation of the ruling theocracy are removed from reality. They are only a pretext to justify trade contracts and political dealings with the mullahs' illegitimate regime."

Secretariat of the National Council of Resistance of Iran
July 27, 1998

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