DATE:08/09/93
TITLE:DJEREJIAN ON IRAN (08/09/93)
TEXT:*93080904.TXT
DJEREJIAN ON IRAN

(VOA Editorial)  (390)
(Following is an editorial, broadcast by the Voice of America August 9,
1eflecting the views of the U.S. government.)

The U.S. assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern Affairs, Edward
Djerejian, recently told members of the U.S. Congress that "normal
relations with Tehran are impossible as long as Iran continues to engage in
its current behavior."  Djerejian said that the U.S. objections to Iranian
behavior focus on several areas.

The first area concerns Iran's quest for nuclear and other weapons of mass
destruction.  The United States is working with its allies to develop a
consensus on multilateral controls on the export of sensitive technology to
Iran.  The objective is to prevent Iran from acquiring the means to produce
and deploy nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction, as well
as ballistic missiles.

Iran's continued involvement in terrorism and assassination worldwide is
another area of deep concern.  Djerejian said that since 1988, "Iran's
record of assassinating political dissidents forms a consistent and
continuous pattern reflecting Iranian policy approved at the highest
levels."  The United States will maintain existing unilateral sanctions
against Iran until Iran abandons support for terrorism and terrorist
groups.

Iran has also been supporting and advocating violence to stop the
Arab-Israeli peace negotiations.  Iran continues to call publicly for the
destruction of Israel.  Iran works to mobilize extremist groups -- both
Islamic and secular -- against the peace talks.  For instance, the recent
fighting in southern Lebanon was initiated by Hizballah, a terrorist group
that receives extensive support from Iran.

Another objectionable aspect of Iranian behavior is its threats and
subversive activities against its neighbors.  Most recently, this has been
seen in the military incursions Iran has made into the Kurdish areas of
Iraq.

Along with other members of the U.N. Human Rights Commission, the United
States has also had longstanding concerns regarding Iran's dismal human
rights record and the way in which it treats its own people.

For all these reasons, the United States intends to maintain its sanctions
against Iran and seek increased bilateral and international pressure to
induce the Iranian government to change its behavior.  As Assistant
Secretary of State Edward Djerejian stressed, "Iran cannot hope to have
normal relations with the international community while acting against the
norms of that community."

NNNN

.