It was the latest in a series of killings of opponents of the Teheran Government.

Then he qualified the remark, adding that the Teheran Government has not divorced itself from state-supported terrorism.

The Teheran Government has denied any involvement in the killing, blaming squabbling exile groups.

The Teheran Government has appealed to educated Iranians living abroad to return to their homeland.

He dismissed reports from Iran that the Teheran Government had begun a new diplomatic initiative aimed at ending the war.

But despite the backing of the Teheran Government they are poorly equipped.

But he also said the Teheran Government would have to be "cooperative" to make the plan work.

It would be the bank's first loan to the Teheran Government since before the 1979 Islamic revolution.

But that was eventually rejected by the Teheran Government; Iranian officials said it contained obsolete and unsuitable material.

The official was a former Iranian diplomat who broke with the Teheran Government a decade ago.