"There are enemies who can be bought or forced to change their stands
toward the Islamic republic of Iran by terrorizing or threatening their
family members who reside in Iran," Reza said.
IRGC's new strategy was launched in 2008 in wake of the defeat by the
Mahdi Army and Special Groups throughout Iraq. Reza said the Quds Force has
formed squads of between five and nine assassins.
Reza did not identify the Iraqis targeted by the Quds Force. But he said
many of them were leading Iraqi Shi'ites regarded as Teheran's friends
during the Saddam Hussein regime and now deemed enemies.
"It transpired to the Iranian leadership that officials on whom it had
counted are Iraqis before being friends of Iran," Reza said. "Even though
they were allied with Iran during the time of struggle, they assume
responsibility in their country. Therefore, they refuse to serve as a tool
in the hands of IRGC and the [Iranian] supreme leader."
Reza said many of the new assassin squads were comprised of Iraqi
Shi'ites who fled on the eve of the U.S.-led invasion in 2003. He said the
squads were replacing thousands of fighters from Iranian-financed militias,
such as the Badr Corps, today a major element of the Iraq Army and police.
"IRGC has begun to train Iraqi Shi'ite youths from the families that
were deported to Iran on the eve of the U.S. invasion," Reza said.
