DATE=1/6/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-243866
TITLE=IRAN / U-S REACT (L ONLY)
BYLINE=KYLE KING
DATELINE=STATE DEPARTMENT
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:   THE UNITED STATES HAS WELCOMED THE ARREST OF SEVERAL 
IRANIAN INTELLIGENCE AGENTS WHO HAVE BEEN LINKED TO A STRING OF 
RECENT POLITICAL KILLINGS IN THAT COUNTRY.  FROM THE STATE 
DEPARTMENT, V-O-A'S KYLE KING REPORTS.

 

TEXT:   SINCE THE RECENT SPATE OF KILLINGS BEGAN LATE LAST YEAR, 
THE UNITED STATES HAS REPEATEDLY CALLED ON IRANIAN AUTHORITIES TO
ARREST THOSE RESPONSIBLE. 

STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN JAMES RUBIN WELCOMED THE NEWS OF THE 
RECENT ARRESTS AS A POSITIVE DEVELOPMENT. 

                         // RUBIN ACT //

         THE ARRESTS ARE A POSITIVE STEP TOWARDS MAINTAINING THE 
         RULE OF LAW IN IRAN, AND PROVIDING FOR THE SECURITY OF 
         IRANIANS TO EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS. 

                          // END ACT //

ON TUESDAY, THE IRANIAN INTELLIGENCE MINISTRY ANNOUNCED WITH 
REGRET THAT SEVERAL OF ITS AGENTS HAD BEEN INVOLVED IN THE 
SLAYING OF SEVERAL PROMINENT DISSIDENTS AND WRITERS. 

THE AGENCY DID NOT IDENTIFY THOSE ARRESTED OR SAY HOW MANY HAD 
BEEN TAKEN INTO CUSTODY, BUT CALLED THEM MISGUIDED TRAITORS AND 
CONDEMNED THEIR ACTIONS. 

SOME POLITICAL ANALYSTS CALL THE ADMISSION A GREAT STEP FORWARD 
FOR THE COUNTRY AND A FAVORABLE DEVELOPMENT FOR IRAN'S PRESIDENT 
MOHAMMED KHATAMI, WHO HAD ORDERED AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE 
KILLINGS. 

THE ARRESTS HAVE AGAIN RAISED QUESTIONS ABOUT WHETHER IRANIAN 
GOVERNMENT AGENTS MAY HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THE KILLING OF OTHER 
OPPONENTS SINCE THE 1979 REVOLUTION. 

GERMAN OFFICIALS HAVE ALLEGED IRANIAN INTELLIGENCE AGENTS WERE 
WAS BEHIND THE 1992 MURDER OF SEVERAL DISSIDENTS IN A BERLIN 
RESTAURANT.  IRAN HAS DENIED THE ALLEGATIONS.(SIGNED)



NEB/KBK/PT

06-Jan-99 5:21 PM EST (2221 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.