bear market remains in force, page-20

TEHRAN (AP)--Iran's parliament speaker warned Tuesday that no part of Israel
is safe during Hezbollah's battle with Lebanon - a statement made despite
Iran's claim that it is not aiding the guerrillas in their fight.

Speaking to thousands of anti-Israel demonstrators in Palestine Square,
Speaker Gholam Ali Haddad Adel told Israelis: "The towns you have built in
northern Palestine (Israel) are within the range of the brave Lebanese
children. No part of Israel will be safe."

Haddad Adel is not among the most influential officials in Iran.
Nevertheless, his comments call into question the Tehran government's official
position that it is not involved in the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah
in Lebanon.

Iran and its ally Syria are the principal backers of Hezbollah, the Lebanese
militant group that provoked the current fighting when its guerrillas seized
two Israeli soldiers last week. Monday, Israeli military officials said their
planes had destroyed a long-range missile in Lebanon, named "Zelzal," that
Hezbollah had received from Iran.

Also Monday, Iran's foreign minister said he thought a cease-fire was
feasible -in another sign that Iran may have a behind-the-scenes role in the
fighting.

Israel has alleged that 100 members of Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards are
in Lebanon acting as advisers to Hezbollah. Iran has denied the accusation,
saying Hezbollah is strong enough to defend itself.

In his speech, Haddad Adel praised Hezbollah leader Sheik Hassan Nasrallah,
calling him a "brave lion," and said the Palestinians and Lebanese had every
right to fight Israel because Israel has hundreds of Lebanese and Palestinians
in its prisons.

He also warned that there would be no peace until the U.S. stopped supporting
Israel.

Addressing Washington, he said: "Either cut your support for Israel, or don't
expect peace and compromise with the world."

The crowd responded with chants of "Death to Israel!"



(END) Dow Jones Newswires