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WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
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Iran
Index
From the beginning of the new Islamic regime, the Pasdaran
functioned as a corps of the faithful. Its role in national
security evolved from securing the regime and eliminating
opposition forces to becoming a branch of the military
establishment. The Pasdaran's most problematic role, however, has
been in intelligence.
Although little is known about the Ministry of the Pasdaran,
its intelligence-gathering operations, and its relationship with
SAVAMA, several reports have speculated that the Pasdaran has
maintained an intelligence branch to spy on the regime's
adversaries and to participate in their arrests and trials
(see SAVAMA
, this ch.). Khomeini implied Pasdaran involvement in
intelligence when he congratulated the Pasdaran on the arrest of
Iranian communist Tudeh leaders. Observers also believed that the
Pasdaran had contacts with underground movements in the Gulf
region. Given their importance in domestic politics, it would have
been possible for Pasdaran members to be assigned to Iranian
diplomatic missions, where, in the course of routine intelligence
activities, they could monitor dissidents. Observers believed that
Pasdaran influence might be particularly important in Kuwait,
Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates.
Under the command of Mohsen Rezai, the Pasdaran became large
enough to match the strength of the regular military. Its power
base remained strong in 1987, with the continuing support of
Khomeini and other religious authorities. Having eliminated armed
leftist groups such as the Mojahedin and the Fadayan, the Pasdaran
had fulfilled all IRP expectations. With the abolition of the IRP
in 1987, however, observers were uncertain whether the Pasdaran
would continue to enjoy unlimited support from high-ranking
clerics. Staunchly religious, nationalistic, and battle-trained
since 1980, the Pasdaran had emerged as a critical force in
determining Iran's national security strategy. In a post-Khomeini
era, the Pasdaran could wield enormous power to approve or
disapprove governmental changes. In contrast to the Pasdaran, which
had a primary responsibility for upholding the Revolution, the
major concern of the Iranian military was the prosecution of the
war with Iraq.
Data as of December 1987
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