Israel denies Iran’s plans to end its ties to terrorism

JERUSALEM, March 23 (JTA) — Israeli defense officials are denying reports that Iran is severing links with terrorist organizations. The assessment came in the wake of a New York Times report about a letter Iranian President Mohammed Khatami sent President Clinton in which he pledged to withdraw Iranian support for terrorist groups. One Israeli security official, quoted by the Israeli daily Ha’aretz, said such a move is intended to “improve Iran’s image in the West, but does not express a change in Tehran’s basic positions regarding terrorism.” Security sources were quoted as saying that Iran continues to provide full support for most Islamic terror groups in the Middle East, including Hezbollah, Hamas and Islamic Jihad. According to the sources, Iran is still providing the groups with funding and training. They added that delegations representing terrorist groups recently traveled to Tehran for consultations with the Iranian leadership. At the same time, arms shipments from Iran for Hezbollah fighters in southern Lebanon continue to arrive through Damascus, Ha’aretz reported. One defense source noted that for Khatami, it is all a matter of perspective. “In Khatami’s view, Hezbollah or Hamas are not terrorist groups, but freedom fighters.”