Iranian intelligence to adopt more aggressive approach

Iran’s intelligence minister says the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei is instructing his ministry to take a more aggressive approach in dealing with “the enemies and intelligence agencies.”

In a memo that followed the Supreme Leader’s six-hour visit to the ministry of intelligence, Heydar Moslehi writes: “Since the best defence is considered to be an attack, the ministry is planning aggressive attacks through intelligence services.”

“Young recruits and experienced servants of the Islamic Republic will take charge of this mission, which will be marked by the coalescence of youthful spirit and experience,” the intelligence minister says.

He adds that the Leader has expressed satisfaction with the the intelligence ministry’s efforts so far in confronting the “sedition.”

The Islamic Republic government refers to the protests that have arisen following allegations of fraud in the 2009 re-election of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as sedition.

In his visit to the ministry, the Supreme Leader recommended that the ministry concentrate on “thorough long-term plans of action.”

He also emphasized that even though the minister of intelligence is appointed by the government, the ministry should not be swayed by political partisanship and should remain consistently faithful to the leadership and the Islamic Revolution.

Iran’s ministry of intelligence has been instrumental in clamping down on the election protests of the past year and a half.