Sepah News/ Mehr News/Rooz online
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the commander in chief of Iran’s armed forces, has made several key appointments to the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, choosing some of the most feared and brutal commanders in the country.
The appointments include: the new deputy commander of the IRGC; the new commander of the Basij; the new deputy commander of the IRGC for readiness, logistics, and research; and the new commander of the IRGC’s air and space program.
The new Basij commander, Mohammad Reza Naghdi, earned his fame during the trials of Tehran’s mayor and his deputies in 1997 and 1998 when he ran the Intelligence Bureau of Tehran’s Police Force. During those trials, Naghdi and his team were accused of torturing the inmates, most of whom were high-ranking city officials with ties to the Kargozaran Sazandegi Party, a political party with intimate ties to former President Ali-Akbar Hashemi-Rafsanjani.
Brigadier General Naghdi was born in the city of Najaf in Iraq and moved to Iran after the Islamic Revolution of 1979. He was a member of the Supreme Council for Islamic Revolution in Iraq, SCIRI. In 1993, Ayatollah Khamenei appointed Naghdi to deputy director of intelligence of the Qods Force, a branch of the IRGC responsible for international operations. Soon after this appointment, Naghdi was appointed to head the Intelligence Bureau of Iran’s Police force. Naghdi and his team are accused of numerous counts of torture and abuse while in charge of Iran’s Police Intelligence.
In 1997 and 1998, following the arrest of Saeed Emami, a high ranking member of the Ministry of Intelligence responsible for murdering a number of secular intellectuals, Naghdi and his team formed what is referred to a “parallel intelligence force.” This intelligence force worked outside the jurisdiction of former President Mohammad Khatami’s government. Khatami had pledged to cleanse the Ministry of Intelligence of radical and rouge elements.
In 2005, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad appointed Naghdi to fight commodity and currency smugglers. Soon after this appointment, Naghdi accused Rostam Agha-Khan, one of Ahmadinejad’s financial sponsors, as a smuggler. Ahmadinejad removed Naghdi from his post and he was appointed by Khamenei as the deputy commander of the IRGC for readiness, logistics, and research.
Another key appointment made by Khamenei was of Hassan Taeb to the Intelligence Bureau of the IRGC. Taeb was the former commander of the Basij and one of the main officials responsible for cracking down on the post-election demonstrations that spread through the country this past summer. As the IRGC is becoming ever more influential in Iran, Khamenei is sending his closest confidant to lead the intelligence wing of this powerful organization.
-
Critical Comments
Turkey’s Domestic Controversy Unfolds Amidst Increasing Ties with Iran
Shayan Ghajar
Events the past few weeks in Turkey indicate that a sea change is occurring in the nation’s domestic politics. Prime Minister Erdogan’s maneuvering against the traditionally untouchable military marks a new phase in Turkey’s history. This shift in Turkey’s domestic politics follows a more gradual but no less relevant shift in its foreign policy, and likely indicates even greater changes to come. Mutual trade, investment, and tourism are growing between Turkey and Iran, and the two nations are increasingly in accord on three of the regions biggest security issues, namely the Middle East peace process, Iran’s nuclear program, and Kurdish separatism. more»
Greens Shift Strategy in Wake of February 11
Shayan Ghajar
The low turnout and disorganization of Green Movement protestors on February 11, Iran’s 31st anniversary of the Islamic Revolution, highlighted the weaknesses of the opposition’s approach in the face of intensifying pressures from the government. However, while the Green Movement may have suffered its first significant blow from the government last Thursday, both the leadership and grassroots supporters appear to be returning to their original strategy of decentralizing their protests. more»
Iranian Government Launches Communications Blackout on February 11
Shayan Ghajar
The Iranian government intensified its internet filters and communications blackouts on February 11, 2010. The day marks the 31-year anniversary of the Islamic Revolution and is witnessing massive demonstrations both for and against the government. Getting news out of the country is increasingly difficult for Iranians as the government clamped down on communications systems ranging from text messaging to email services. In previous protests, opposition supporters organized demonstrations on various social networking sites, and published videos and accounts of protests online in defiance of strict regulations on domestic and foreign press in Iran. more»
- View All Critical Comments »