Iranian Intelligence Agents Sow Seeds of Terrorism in America Says Iran Policy Committee

WASHINGTON, Oct. 24. Today, intelligence agents of the Iranian regime are holding a news conference in Washington, DC, according to the Iran Policy Committee (IPC).

IPC said this panel is a disinformation ploy mounted by the new president of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who is mobilizing Iranian intelligence services in a world-wide series of probes against the United States.

Professor Raymond Tanter, co-Chair of the IPC stated that, "Ahmadinejad is following Lenin's principle: `You probe with a bayonet. If you encounter mush, proceed. If you strike steel, withdraw.'" Tanter added that, "Steel rather than mush should meet Iranian intelligence agents sent to this country to probe for opportunities and exploit our vulnerabilities."

Since the accession to power of Ahmadinejad as president, Iran is more aggressive in its nuclear weapons program and negotiations with the European Union. He resumed activities at the Uranium Conversion Facility in Isfahan and appointed Iranian Revolutionary Guards commanders in charge of overseeing the country's nuclear program.

Ahmadinejad also stepped up Iran's activities in Iraq, sending arms, explosives, and funding to support pro-Iran groups. It is noteworthy that Iranian intelligence operations in Iraq preceded insurgent attacks killing American and British forces.

Clare Lopez, former CIA official and Executive Director of the Iran Policy Committee, stated that, "Just as Ahmadinejad's intelligence activities came before insurgent attacks in Iraq, so Iranian intelligence actions in the United States may signal terrorist attacks on the American homeland."

Bruce McColm, former Executive Director of Freedom House and co-Chair of the Iran Policy Committee stated that, "As part of a global campaign, Ahmadinejad accelerated attacks against Iranian dissidents abroad. Traditionally, intelligence operations by Iran'sMinistry of Intelligence and Security preceded assassination attempts by its agents."

Because Americans of Iranian heritage are the dissidents of today and are bound to become leaders of Iran tomorrow, McColm stated that, "The Iranian regime's agents are casing the dissidents for possible assassination." McColm added that, "If Tehran succeeds in establishing a beachhead for assassination in America, Iranian Americans would be first; and any of us could be next."

Who are the agents who would seize the beachhead in the American homeland?

-- Karim Haqi: Iran Policy Committee exposed veteran Iranian intelligence agent, Karim Haqi, in its June 30, 2005 White Paper, "U.S. Policy Options for Iran: Sham Elections, Disinformation Campaign, Human Rights Abuses, and Regime Change."

The White Paper demonstrates that in Spring 2005, Haqi ran an intelligence operation that succeeded in duping Human Rights Watch, the New York City-based American nongovernmental organization, into fronting as a mouthpiece for Iranian intelligence.

-- Mahrukh (Parvin) Haji: An agent of Iran's intelligence service according to IPC, Haji maintains active links with a network of agents in Canada and Europe. The Pars-Iran association, which is the organizer of the October 24, 2005 press conference in Washington, is a front for Iranian intelligence in Canada, IPC said.

-- Amir-Hossein Kord Rostami: An agent of Iran's intelligence service in Ottawa according to IPC, Rostami was officially a member of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps along the Caspian Sea since 1979.
What is to be done by the U.S. Government?

-- The Department of Homeland Security's U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services should block entry into the United States of additional Iranian agents.

-- The Department of State should revoke visas and expel three Iranian intelligence agents-Karim Haqi, Mahrukh (Parvin) Haji, and Amir-Hossein Kord Rostami, who are in Washington for a press conference on Oct. 24.

-- The FBI should assign additional agents to monitor activities of Iran's intelligence officials on American soil, with a view toward eliminating such presence.

Just as Tehran increases its own intelligence operations within the United States, Iran might also task its surrogates to engage in additional intelligence activities prior to terrorist operations within the American homeland. Because Iran is a state sponsor of such terrorist groups as Hizballah, Hamas, and Islamic Jihad, U.S. intelligence services should allocate additional resources to monitoring these organizations.

To prevent Iran's intelligence services from sowing the seeds of terrorism within the American homeland, U.S officials need to act against those who seek to probe our vulnerabilities and exploit our freedoms.