The Telegraph newspaper revealed that Iranian authorities carried out a “cleansing” campaign within the Iranian Guard after fearing infiltration by spies working for Israel.
This newspaper announced in an investigation that following the dismissal of Hossein Taib, the head of the Intelligence Organization, following a series of incidents that embarrassed the Iranian regime, including the assassination of two Iranian and Israeli nuclear scientists, a high-ranking officer of the Revolutionary Guards was arrested. Hacking Iran’s important documents about the country’s nuclear program.
Quoting Israeli security officials, this newspaper wrote: “The information published by Israel shocked the Iranians and was a slap in the face” and referring to the new tactic that Israel has taken against Iran under the title “Octopus Doctrine” wrote: Weakening Iran’s intelligence and moving from hitting Iranian weapons and operatives to directly targeting the head.
Pointing out that the replacement of Hossein Taeb, the head of the Intelligence Organization, by Mohammad Kazemi, the former head of the IRGC’s protection unit, is a sign of Iran’s fear of the country’s intelligence services being at risk, he said: IRGC intelligence’s inability to prevent Israeli attacks.
Changes are believed to be taking place in Iran, where guards are on the lookout for “birds” or clients within the institution.
This newspaper quoted Dr. Reza Taghizadeh, an Iranian observer based in London, who wrote that Taeb’s sudden removal indicates a political purge at a time when the regime is facing internal pressures and challenges in its regional policy.
Iran affairs analyst Dr. Kylie Moore Gilbert said intelligence officials in Iran called Tayeb “the judge” because he oversaw the interrogations and torture of prisoners.
Referring to Iran’s fear of foreign influence in its institutions, the IRGC appointed Mohammad Kazemi, the director of the protection and intelligence unit, who is an expert in internal affairs, as Taeb’s successor.
Gilbert said: “Most theories say that the overthrow of Taeb was due to the inability of IRGC intelligence to prevent operations inside Iran’s borders, including major assassinations.
He added that the IRGC security organization is considered a non-professional security organization, its members are recruited based on ideological and religious loyalty, and everything is kept “within the family”. “You have to be aware of the people inside before you walk through the door,” he noted.
Source: Lebanon Debate
