Tehran seeks IRA aid

TEHRAN has called on the IRA to help cleanse Britain of the Iranian opposition movement, the Mujahedin Khalq whose headquarters are in Iraq, writes Safa Haeri.

In an undated news story, the official Islamic Republic News Agency, IRNA, suggested that the 'heroic IRA freedom fighters' should wipe out 'Mujahedin mercenaries' based in Britain. This follows reports leaked by the Foreign Office of links between the IRA and Iran. IRNA accused Britain of providing the 'terrorists' with offices and logistical help.

It cited as evidence a meeting on 15 April between Maryam Rajavi, the wife of the leader of the Mujahedin organisation, and Lord Ennals whom it described as a member of the 'British espionage service'. A Mujahedin spokesman in London confirmed the meeting had taken place.

IRNA says there are 'strong and widespread rumours among the Irish' that the Mujahedin 'will assist the British espionage services against IRA members.' Such help would include 'torturing IRA prisoners'. In an editorial, 'Britain, a terrorist base', the daily Jomhuri Eslami suggested that the IRA should 'clean the soil of England from Mujahedin mercenaries'. The newspaper belongs to the country's spiritual leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The paper says that the 'vicious British, incapable of rooting out the IRA fighters, are now getting help from the Mujahedin by using them as 'sandbags' '.