SOVIET-IRANIAN TIES WARM UP

The Soviet Union is reportedly considering selling arms to Iran, according to the chief of the Soviet armed forces. The subject was being considered during this week's visit by Iranian Speaker Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani. Gen. Mikhail Moiseyev said Moscow would make a ``comprehensive assessment'' of such sales and that any decision would be made by political, not military leaders.

Iranian officials have indicated they are interested in buying arms from the Soviet Union, which supplied Iran's enemy Iraq during the eight-year Gulf war. Mr. Rafsanjani and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev agreed Tuesday to pursue better relations.