The head of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Intelligence Organization has revealed that at least ten foreign intelligence services were directly involved in the recent riots in Iran.
In an interview with the Khamenei.ir website, Brigadier General Majid Khademi detailed that the enemies had devised a seven-stage plot for the recent violent and terrorist riots, emphasizing that the ultimate objective of the unrest was to unseat the Islamic establishment.
General Khademi stated that the enemies namely the US and ‘Israel’ sought to spark protests and transform them into strikes, using them as an imperceptible weapon to pressure Iran’s political system. At various stages and in numerous instances, he noted, they actively tried to create such a situation.
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He added that the adversaries also instructed their agents to attack security centers and bases, aiming to undermine the country’s national security apparatus, in a manner reminiscent of the 12-day war of aggression imposed by Israel and the US on Iran in June of last year.
The enemies also resorted to fabricating deaths in order to evoke public emotions and justify foreign military intervention, General Khademi pointed out.
Furthermore, the enemies attempted to portray the system as incapable and inefficient in addressing the country’s economic, social, and security challenges, prompting anti-government groups to mistakenly believe that regime change was viable, the IRGC intelligence chief explained.
General Khademi went on to note that enemies launched cyber-attacks and acts of sabotage against Iran’s service infrastructure, while accusing the government of inefficiency in a bid to disrupt the daily lives of ordinary citizens and foster widespread dissatisfaction.
The enemies also tried to link protest movements to terrorist elements, stationing terrorist groups deep inside Iran and along the borders for that purpose, the general stated.
They further sought to secure foreign support, potentially paving the way for special operations and military attacks by the United States, General Khademi added.
The IRGC intelligence chief stated that field evidence from the recent terrorist riots in Iran indicates that enemies funneled substantial sums of money into the scheme through cryptocurrencies. They made extensive efforts to organize and direct field forces, including terrorist elements, political groups on social media, individuals convicted of violent crimes, and local thugs.
General Khademi further noted that the quasi-coup failed to materialize due to the enemies’ haste in exploiting protests over dollar shortages, which left some of their networks operationally unprepared.
He attributed the defeat of the enemies’ anti-Iran plot to several factors: the Iranian nation’s historical hatred of prominent opposition figures, deep distrust of American officials and Israel, and public anger at explicit interventionist positions.
The IRGC intelligence chief also cited disagreements among traditional anti-government groups regarding how and when to join the riots, as well as their refusal to accept the centrality of pro-Pahlavi elements, as additional factors contributing to the scheme’s failure.
National unity, particularly within the government, parliament, and domestic political forces, also played a crucial role in frustrating the enemies’ plot, General Khademi stated.
The IRGC intelligence chief underscored that Iranian law enforcement forces managed effectively to distinguish between peaceful protesters and violent rioters, responding in a decisive manner to acts of sabotage.
Finally, General Khademi praised the spirited resistance of Iran’s military forces and diplomats in the face of the US military buildup and constant threats.
Source: Tasnim news agency