By: Reza Shafa
NCRI – With Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s ascendancy to power, the old era of terrorism as the only means of expanding the “Islamic Revolution” is coming to life again.
The outdated directorate of Foreign Affairs in the Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS) is in the front burner again.
Ahmadinejad has recently ordered MOIS to revitalize the department by allocating fresh funds and giving new assignment in recruiting new youths from mainly third world countries.
In past, it was necessary for the new members to be faithful Moslems, something which no longer has the first priority. The new recruit must only be against the United States and prepared to act against the U.S. interest. For example some individuals had come from Somalia to Iran for training in the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) training camps. They were non-Moslems among the group.
During Ahmedinejad’s tenure, the once cold relationship between the IRGC and the MOIS has improved drastically. Prior to his coming to power each establishment run its own agenda; but no longer since he wants the implacable face of the Islamic Republic back.
As oppose to Ali Younesi, Gholam-Hossein Mohseni Ejei’s predecessor time in the agency, the MOIS no longer just offers proposals to the regime Supreme National Security Council. Instead, all proposals for covert operations are supervised by a Special Office which has been established after Ahmadinejad began his term under a mullah named Hossein Merhejazi in the MOIS central office in northern Tehran. He in turn reports to Khamenei himself. Other parallel security agencies including IRAGC’s Intelligence Office are all linked to Khamenei’s office.
The policy of destabilizing other countries in the Moslem world is carefully planed in the IRGC’s headquarters in Tehran in coordination with Merhejazi at the Special Office.
Before Ejei, MOIS used to just gathering information on people the agency considered enemies and had no operational responsibilities, but that has changed since. Now the MOIS not only collects information but it has the task of providing logistical support for assassinations and stirring violence where IRGC deems necessary for achieving its goals.
Following are a summary of such tasks in the considered countries:
– Spotting local individuals who have the ability in participating in assassination squads or provoking riots;
– After such people are recruited, the regime’s local embassies will take over in contacting such individuals;
– Then the perspective recruits will be informally interviewed by the undercover MOIS agents in those countries and under the pretexts such as Seminars, visits, getting to know Islamic Republic and etc. would be sent to Iran;
– Once in Iran, the MOIS and Quds Force will take it from that point on. If the individual would be willing to cooperate, the agents would sign a contract with him and would dispatch him to the designated camps which are located in suburbs of Tehran and the holy city of Qom for additional trainings.
IRGC is using the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as yet another means to achieve its goals abroad. MOIS in its capacity outside Iran is serving IRGC where the need for more information and logistical support is needed.
Presently, most of the regime’s envoys around the world have chosen from the high ranking Quds Force commanders. In a few countries where the ambassadors are not a member of IRGC’s Quds Force, they are instructed to follow IRGC orders. In addition, a few sensitive positions at such places are reserved for them.
Among other things, IRGC personals assigned to the embassies are in business of colleting information about high security alert areas.
Ahmadinejad is determined to pursue its objectives abroad through terrorist tactics which were temperately set aside by the mullahs for a short period of time.
Reza Shafa is an expert on the Iranian regime’s intelligence networks, both in Iran and abroad. He has done extensive research on VAVAK (MOIS), IRGC’s Intelligence Office, and Quds Force among others. Currently he is a contributor to NCRI website.