Rapprochement with U.S. has Iran worried
SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Wednesday, March 22, 2000
NICOSIA -- Iran is concerned that Iraq will escalate tension in wake
of the Clinton administration decision to begin a rapprochement dialogue
with Teheran.
Officials said Iraqi officials and newspapers have intensified criticism
of the Islamic regime and warned against a U.S.-Iranian alliance against
Baghdad. The officials said the attacks by the Iraqi-based Mujahadeen Khalq
opposition group could increase over the next few weeks.
On Monday, the Baghdad-based Babel daily, owned by the son of President
Saddam Hussein, warned Iran not to exploit its rapprochement with Washington
"to play with fire against Iraq." The newspaper said the United States
intends to use Iran to increase hostilities against Saddam's regime.
In Teheran, Iranian leaders are calling for national unity in
preparation for any confrontation with Iraq. Iranian supreme leader Ali
Khamenei urged President Mohammed Khatami to accelerate the investigation
into the series of murders last year and the recent assassination attempt
against a reformist Teheran city council member, Said Khajarian.
Officials said six people have been arrested over the Khajarian
assassination attempt. The council member was shot on March 12 by two gunmen
who escaped on a high-powered motorbike of a type only available here to
government agencies.
In a letter to Khatami, Khamenei expressed concern over the state of
national security and he ordered government ministries to "expedite efforts
with more seriousness to follow up the case and bring those involved to
justice," the official Islamic Republic News Agency said.
The attacks have been pinned on bastions of the Islamic regime such as
the Revolutionary Guards and the Basij volunteer forces, which Khamenei
termed as the "most reliable bastions of national security, with false
accusations."
"Under such a tumultuous atmosphere, how the judicial and security
organs can carry out their responsibilities with care and tranquil
mood?'' Khamenei asked. "You had better commission
officials to reach convincing result on case of the event [the attempted
assassination] in a definite time; in that case my anxiety and concern would
subside."
Wednesday, March 22, 2000
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