Iran Terror Database – In 1998, the Iranian public was horrified and amazed by the brutal murders of numerous prominent intellectuals, later to be described in the Iranian media as the “chain murders”, Iran Terror has learnt.
The public was equally shocked after rival factions feuding for power revealed that the murders had been an “inside-job” sanctioned on by then-Deputy Minister of Intelligence and Security Saeed Emami. The Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS) blamed the killings on “rogue agents”.
In order to rectify the negative impact of the "chain murders" episode, the Iranian regime inevitably had to conduct a purge of the ministry, and fired some 1,000 MOIS agents.
The agents that had been given the sack were operating under the organizational command of aides to Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and had a reputation for ruthlessness.
Since hard-liner Mahmoud Ahmadinejad replaced Mohammad Khatami as President, Khamenei has been working to revive the ministry.
Khamenei recently ordered current Interior Minister Mostafa Pour-Mohammadi to incorporate the 1,000 former agents into three commands; in the Interior Ministry, the judiciary, and the MOIS.
The move is expected to widen the sphere of influence the MOIS has over key power structures in Iran.
