NCRI – Fearful of widespread social discontent and the ever growing influence of the Iranian Resistance amongst various sectors of society, especially the youth, the mullahs’ regime IRGC has resorted to establishing a new body called the “Soft War Garrison” in the Armed Forces General Headquarters.
IRGC Brigadier General Massoud Jazaeri – deputy of the Basij Armed Forces General Headquarters which announced the establishment of new garrison – stated that: “In this sensitive state of soft war and even hard war, it will help us decide on our media stance and propaganda”.
Among the new garrison’s responsibilities is imposition of intense Internet suppression, especially during the coming sham presidential elections. Previously, the clerical regime had voiced concern in state-run media about the increased online activities of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) as the election approaches.
Javan Online, an IRGC affiliated website, wrote on 7 January 2013: “In recent months, because of the presidential elections, PMOI activity on the Internet, especially Facebook, has sharply increased as they ask for news, pictures and films showing economic difficulties, protest gatherings, the presence of security and military forces in the streets, or the punishment and treatment of criminals (such as public executions).”
Former IRGC Commander Mohsen Rezaii, in an article titled “Mojahedin waylay in Facebook for Iranian internet users” posted on his website Tabnak of January 5, expressed concern that the Iranian youth fall prey to PMOI activities on the Internet.
Another organ of the clerical regime called the “Didban Strategic Institute” also wrote on the same day: “For some time now, the PMOI has been establishing connections with and attracting internet users inside the country in order to spy, extract information and receive news and pictures to be used in the opposition media.”
A while ago, the Sharif head of IRGC public relations stated: “Today, war has shifted from hard to soft, and a war worse than the Iran-Iraq war has begun.” (Ressalat state-run daily – October 5, 2012).
Ahmadi Moqaddam, the Commander of State Security Forces, also declared: “Satellites and anti-cultural media have begun a strong assault against this country and are looking to spread despair, instability and desolation in Iran. Some are not aware of the intensity of the threats and fail to comprehend the scale of the problem.” (Mehr news agency affiliated with Ministry of Intelligence – October 5, 2012).
And in yet another development on January 27, while referring to the incurable crises that have engulfed the regime, the IRGC described “the military rank and file of Camp Ashraf in Tehran” as one of regime’s most baffling problems.
Secretariat of the National Council of Resistance of Iran
January 28, 2013
