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Iran
Role in National Security
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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