DATE=6/6/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=IRAN DEFECTOR (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-263219
BYLINE=JIM RANDLE
DATELINE=PENTAGON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:


INTRO:  A U-S official says American intelligence 
experts are interviewing an Iranian defector who says 
Iran was behind the bomb that blew up Pan Am flight 
103 over Scotland in 1988.  The defector also says 
Iranian operatives blew up a U-S military barracks in 
Saudi Arabia in 1996.  As V-O-A's Jim Randle reports, 
the U-S official says Washington has drawn "no final 
conclusion" on the claims, but says the defector's 
story has some "very large holes."


TEXT:  The defector, Ahmad Behbahani (prono:  AH-mad  
BAY-be-HAN-ee), told an American television network 
that he headed overseas terrorism operations for 
Iran's government for 10 years.

Mr. Behbahani told a C-B-S producer that Iran carried 
out the 1988 bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 in a joint 
operation with Libya.

The defector says Iran sought revenge for an Iranian 
airliner mistakenly downed earlier that year by a U-S 
warship.

Two Libyan men are on trial in the Netherlands on 
charges of planting the Pan Am bomb, which killed 270 
people.

U-S State Department spokesman Philip Reeker says that 
trial will continue.

            /// Reeker Act ///

      We will follow the evidence wherever it leads.  
      In the meantime, the United States stands by the 
      facts of the case as outlined in the indictment 
      that we have presented of the two Libyans 
      currently on trial for the attack, and we 
      believe that case is very solid.

            /// End Act ///

The C-B-S interview with the defector was not recorded 
because Mr. Behbanani is in a Turkish refugee camp, 
where officials would not allow cameras.  The 
television network says an Iranian-born network 
employee sneaked into the camp and held a conversation 
with the defector.

The defector also said Iran was behind the 1996 
bombing of the Khobar Towers military housing complex 
in Saudi Arabia, which killed 19 U-S troops.

Mr. Reeker says Iran has been involved in terrorism 
for years.

            /// Reeker Act ///

      In terms of Iran support for terrorism, our most 
      recent terrorism report makes very clear our 
      concerns about Iran's use of terrorism and has 
      continually called Iran the most active state 
      sponsor of terrorism.

            /// End Act ///

If U-S officials confirm the defector's story, it 
could hurt Washington's efforts to improve relations 
with the government of Iranian President Mohammed 
Khatami.  He is a cleric elected president of Iran in 
1997 and is viewed in the West as a relative moderate.

Meanwhile, Iran's intelligence chief is dismissing the 
charges made by the alleged defector.  Intelligence 
Minister Ali Yunesi says the man is inventing anti-
Iranian stories to improve his chances of getting 
political asylum in the West.   (Signed)

NEB/JR/JP




06-Jun-2000 12:17 PM EDT (06-Jun-2000 1617 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.