Do we know whose hands are we shaking?
by summer on 2007-09-22
Have you ever heard of the RGC, or perhaps the Quads force? Are they today’s business men and yesterdays killers?
The Revolutionary Guards Corps, known as the Pasdaran , was established under a decree issued by Khomeini on May 5, 1979. It was intended to guard the interests of the “faghih” or the supreme leadership, and that led to a blood bath between 1980 and 1990, during which 120 000 supporters of the dissident group, PMOI, were executed. The Pasdaran, under the guidance of such clerics as Lahuti and Hashemi-Rafsanjani, was also "to act as the eyes and ears of the Islamic Revolution" and as a special task force of the Imam Khomeini to crush any counterrevolutionary activities within the government or any political usurper against the Islamic Government
By 1986 the Pasdaran consisted of 350,000 personnel organized in battalion-size units that operated either independently or with units of the regular armed forces. In 1986 the Pasdaran acquired small naval and air elements. By 1996 the ground and naval forces were reported to number 100,000 and 20,000, respectively. The RGC consists of ground, naval, and aviation troops which parallel the structure of the regular military.
During last three months (2007), they reportedly "notified 556 people verbally and issued 430 written notices against ‘social corruption’ and arrested 6419 people, hung156, stoned and implemented ghisas for 29 cases, and closed 43 media outlets.
On the International level the RGC is best distinguished by its highly trained proxies operating in Palestine, Lebanon, Iraq and many other troubled region. The largest branch of Pasdaran foreign operations consists of the Quads force, known for the notorious serial killings and mutilations on going in Iraq today. Lately detailed descriptions of 32000 hired and trained members of this force where revealed by the dissident group , PMOI , in a press conference.
The RGC in Business!
Since 1979 the Pasdaran has undergone fundamental changes in mission and function. Several indications point out to the fact that consequent to taking over of the most senior political, economic and cultural positions of the regime, the commanders of the Islamic Republic Guards Corps (IRGC) have launched an onslaught to take control of the country's economic affairs.
Case in point was handing over three major construction contracts that were handed over to the IRGC. Two of these contracts were in oil and gas exploration and transfer sector, with a total value in excess of $7 billion.
The Deputy Commander of "Khatam-al- Anbia Construction garrison" stated recently the number of projects that the IRGC has carried out without any formal biding process since the end of Iran-Iraq war in 1988. He announced, "We have carried out 1220 nationwide, regional, public, industrial and mining projects and there are 247 projects currently under way." (State-controlled daily, Sharq, June 8, 2006)
In addition to being involved in the field of construction, the companies that are affiliated to the IRGC are extensively engaged in monetary, movie production, chicken farm, honey bee farm, obtaining representative licenses from foreign firms, trade activities in releasing imported goods, mining building stones and taking over public lands activities.
On several occasions, the IRGC has taken over huge pieces of land in posh areas of major cities, Tehran in particular and by resorting to force, it has suppressed the other government agencies that had claims to these lands.
In addition to IRGC, the the Para-military Basij force has entered the field of economy in an unprecedented scope.
Subsequent to Ahmadinejad's becoming the president, General Rahim Safavi, the Commander in Chief of the IRGC, while talking about the future roles of the Basij said on July 29, 2005 that in addition to "confronting soft threats facing the country", the Basij would also "assist the government in its construction crusade." ( State-controlled Fars news agency, July 29, 2005).
New economic onslaught by the IRGC
The new onslaught of the IRGC on Iran's economy is focused on carrying out strategic projects in the oil and gas fields. Out of the $7 billion contract handed by the Ahmadinejad government to IRGC without any bidding, one of the contracts that was not in the oil sector was constructing 27 Kilometers of Tehran's metro. This contract was handed to "Khatam-al- Anbia" garrison in April 2006. Two other projects pertained to huge projects in exploring gas reserves of the country and constructing 900 Kilometers of gas pipelines.
These two contracts were about phase 15 and 16 of Pars-Jonobi (southern Pars) gas reserves.
The contracts for phase 15 and 16 of expansion of southern Pars gas field were signed in Asalouyeh on June 28. The Speaker of the Parliament, the Oil Minister and Deputy Commander of the Khatam-al-anbia garrison signed the agreement.
The objectives of phases 15 and 16 of expansion of southern Pars gas fields were exploring 56 million and 600 thousand cubic meters of natural gas daily, 50 million cubic meters of refined natural gas daily, one million tons of Ethan and 50 thousand tons of liquid gas at each phase. The refining of gas in Asalouyeh would be carried out by Khatam-al-anbia garrison.
The cost of this project is estimated to be around $2 billion and $97 million. By adding the cost for refining section of the contract, the total cost would be around $2.9 billion. Akbar Torkan, the Director of Pars Oil and Gas Company said: "Upon the orders of the President, the budget for the expansion of phases 15 and 16 of southern Pars fields will be provided from government reserves." (Fars news agency, March 5, 2006)
Contract to install nationwide natural gas pipe-line
This contract was signed on June 7, 2006 between the Khatam-al-anbia garrison of the IRGC and the Oil Ministry. Rahim Safavi, the Commander in Chief of the IRGC and the Oil Minister were present during the signing ceremony. According to this contract, the IRGC with a cost of $1.3 billion will transfer natural gas from Asalouyeh to Bandar-Abbas and from there to Sistan-Baluchestan. This pipeline that will end at Iranshahr at the current phase is about 900 Kilometers long. The ultimate objective is to export natural gas to Pakistan by this pipeline.
Motive of the IRGC in this economic onslaught
In comparison to other similar government institutions like Mostazafan (deprived) Foundation and Qods Razavi, the IRGC is the only institution in Ahmadinejad administration that has obtained the right of extensive activity in the oil and gas sector.
The type of economic engagement that the IRGC has engaged in shows that economic plunder is not the only motive. Rather, they want to implement their security and military considerations and views of the ruling faction on the country's economy and its most important sector, i.e., the oil and natural gas sector.
In reference to scope of plundering that the commanders of IRGC enjoy as a result of their engagement in the economic affairs of the country, the case in point is when Ahmadinejad introduced Sadeq Mahsouli, a former commander of the IRGC as the candidate for Minister of Oil, it was revealed that Mahsouli had accumulated 50 billion Tomans ( $60 million) during his tenure in the IRGC.
Fundamental change in macro management of country's political and economic affairs
The fundamental change in macro management of country's political and economic affairs was not merely a reshuffling of a group of technocrats with another group of technocrats. The country's economy and politics is now under command of veteran IRGC commanders and senior officials of security and intelligence apparatus. By gaining the control of the "Supreme National Security Council" and the Majlis (parliament), this clique has taken control of the country's political state of affairs.
In executive affairs, they appointed their retinue in Ministries and their deputies. Subsequently, they took control of governors' position throughout the country and appointed new ambassadors in order to coordinate the economic affairs of the country with the outside world in accordance to security requirements as perceived by the "Supreme National Security Council."
It is rather evident that economic affairs are conducted according to the direction that is set by political and national security apparatus.
A case in point is removing the regime's deposits from Italian banks upon orders of the "Supreme National Security Council". The Head of the Central Bank acted on this order immediately without any regards for economic considerations. This was done to punish Italy that had frozen the deposit of the Iranian embassy in one of the banks of this country and to send a vivid signal to other European countries.
Manipulation of government construction projects by Basij forces
Huge payments by government and by government companies which are earmarked in the budget, including what is paid to government contractors for construction and development projects are the main stimulators in Iranian economy. ( According to fiscal budget of 2006, this is 18,000 billion Tomans, equivalent of $20.5 billion).
In the Budget Law of 2006, it is stipulated that construction projects could be handed to Basij organizations that are under the control of IRGC without being required to go through the formalities of bidding. While in previous administration, the IRGC was able to obtain the contract for huge construction projects including Karkheh dam and Saveh Highway and some contracts in the oil and gas field, but for the first time in the "Budget Law" the IRGC staff are considered as official government contractors.
Smuggling goods to Iran
According to estimates of official sources and the Ministry of Trade, equivalent of 30 percent of goods that are traded at land, sea and air ports officially, are smuggled or traded surreptitiously and illegally. The regime's Customs reported that in 2001 there were 45 ports that import and export of goods from them are not under the control of the regime's Customs.
The Trade Minister of Khatami administration had stated that these ports are primarily under the control of the regime's organs, the military, the IRGC, Basij and other security related organs. (State-controlled Magazine, Refah, July 20, 2002, quoting the Trade Minister of Khatami government.)
In reference to the volume and value of the goods that are smuggled, according to the state-run radio, the Head of State-run Tobacco company said on August 11, 2002 that 75 percent of cigarette consumed in Iran is smuggled to the country with the total value of $800 million to $1 billion annually.
Extensive smuggling of alcoholic beverages is also under the control of IRGC and security personnel.
The Revolutionary Guards Corps, known as the Pasdaran , was established under a decree issued by Khomeini on May 5, 1979. It was intended to guard the interests of the “faghih” or the supreme leadership, and that led to a blood bath between 1980 and 1990, during which 120 000 supporters of the dissident group, PMOI, were executed. The Pasdaran, under the guidance of such clerics as Lahuti and Hashemi-Rafsanjani, was also "to act as the eyes and ears of the Islamic Revolution" and as a special task force of the Imam Khomeini to crush any counterrevolutionary activities within the government or any political usurper against the Islamic Government
By 1986 the Pasdaran consisted of 350,000 personnel organized in battalion-size units that operated either independently or with units of the regular armed forces. In 1986 the Pasdaran acquired small naval and air elements. By 1996 the ground and naval forces were reported to number 100,000 and 20,000, respectively. The RGC consists of ground, naval, and aviation troops which parallel the structure of the regular military.
During last three months (2007), they reportedly "notified 556 people verbally and issued 430 written notices against ‘social corruption’ and arrested 6419 people, hung156, stoned and implemented ghisas for 29 cases, and closed 43 media outlets.
On the International level the RGC is best distinguished by its highly trained proxies operating in Palestine, Lebanon, Iraq and many other troubled region. The largest branch of Pasdaran foreign operations consists of the Quads force, known for the notorious serial killings and mutilations on going in Iraq today. Lately detailed descriptions of 32000 hired and trained members of this force where revealed by the dissident group , PMOI , in a press conference.
The RGC in Business!
Since 1979 the Pasdaran has undergone fundamental changes in mission and function. Several indications point out to the fact that consequent to taking over of the most senior political, economic and cultural positions of the regime, the commanders of the Islamic Republic Guards Corps (IRGC) have launched an onslaught to take control of the country's economic affairs.
Case in point was handing over three major construction contracts that were handed over to the IRGC. Two of these contracts were in oil and gas exploration and transfer sector, with a total value in excess of $7 billion.
The Deputy Commander of "Khatam-al- Anbia Construction garrison" stated recently the number of projects that the IRGC has carried out without any formal biding process since the end of Iran-Iraq war in 1988. He announced, "We have carried out 1220 nationwide, regional, public, industrial and mining projects and there are 247 projects currently under way." (State-controlled daily, Sharq, June 8, 2006)
In addition to being involved in the field of construction, the companies that are affiliated to the IRGC are extensively engaged in monetary, movie production, chicken farm, honey bee farm, obtaining representative licenses from foreign firms, trade activities in releasing imported goods, mining building stones and taking over public lands activities.
On several occasions, the IRGC has taken over huge pieces of land in posh areas of major cities, Tehran in particular and by resorting to force, it has suppressed the other government agencies that had claims to these lands.
In addition to IRGC, the the Para-military Basij force has entered the field of economy in an unprecedented scope.
Subsequent to Ahmadinejad's becoming the president, General Rahim Safavi, the Commander in Chief of the IRGC, while talking about the future roles of the Basij said on July 29, 2005 that in addition to "confronting soft threats facing the country", the Basij would also "assist the government in its construction crusade." ( State-controlled Fars news agency, July 29, 2005).
New economic onslaught by the IRGC
The new onslaught of the IRGC on Iran's economy is focused on carrying out strategic projects in the oil and gas fields. Out of the $7 billion contract handed by the Ahmadinejad government to IRGC without any bidding, one of the contracts that was not in the oil sector was constructing 27 Kilometers of Tehran's metro. This contract was handed to "Khatam-al- Anbia" garrison in April 2006. Two other projects pertained to huge projects in exploring gas reserves of the country and constructing 900 Kilometers of gas pipelines.
These two contracts were about phase 15 and 16 of Pars-Jonobi (southern Pars) gas reserves.
The contracts for phase 15 and 16 of expansion of southern Pars gas field were signed in Asalouyeh on June 28. The Speaker of the Parliament, the Oil Minister and Deputy Commander of the Khatam-al-anbia garrison signed the agreement.
The objectives of phases 15 and 16 of expansion of southern Pars gas fields were exploring 56 million and 600 thousand cubic meters of natural gas daily, 50 million cubic meters of refined natural gas daily, one million tons of Ethan and 50 thousand tons of liquid gas at each phase. The refining of gas in Asalouyeh would be carried out by Khatam-al-anbia garrison.
The cost of this project is estimated to be around $2 billion and $97 million. By adding the cost for refining section of the contract, the total cost would be around $2.9 billion. Akbar Torkan, the Director of Pars Oil and Gas Company said: "Upon the orders of the President, the budget for the expansion of phases 15 and 16 of southern Pars fields will be provided from government reserves." (Fars news agency, March 5, 2006)
Contract to install nationwide natural gas pipe-line
This contract was signed on June 7, 2006 between the Khatam-al-anbia garrison of the IRGC and the Oil Ministry. Rahim Safavi, the Commander in Chief of the IRGC and the Oil Minister were present during the signing ceremony. According to this contract, the IRGC with a cost of $1.3 billion will transfer natural gas from Asalouyeh to Bandar-Abbas and from there to Sistan-Baluchestan. This pipeline that will end at Iranshahr at the current phase is about 900 Kilometers long. The ultimate objective is to export natural gas to Pakistan by this pipeline.
Motive of the IRGC in this economic onslaught
In comparison to other similar government institutions like Mostazafan (deprived) Foundation and Qods Razavi, the IRGC is the only institution in Ahmadinejad administration that has obtained the right of extensive activity in the oil and gas sector.
The type of economic engagement that the IRGC has engaged in shows that economic plunder is not the only motive. Rather, they want to implement their security and military considerations and views of the ruling faction on the country's economy and its most important sector, i.e., the oil and natural gas sector.
In reference to scope of plundering that the commanders of IRGC enjoy as a result of their engagement in the economic affairs of the country, the case in point is when Ahmadinejad introduced Sadeq Mahsouli, a former commander of the IRGC as the candidate for Minister of Oil, it was revealed that Mahsouli had accumulated 50 billion Tomans ( $60 million) during his tenure in the IRGC.
Fundamental change in macro management of country's political and economic affairs
The fundamental change in macro management of country's political and economic affairs was not merely a reshuffling of a group of technocrats with another group of technocrats. The country's economy and politics is now under command of veteran IRGC commanders and senior officials of security and intelligence apparatus. By gaining the control of the "Supreme National Security Council" and the Majlis (parliament), this clique has taken control of the country's political state of affairs.
In executive affairs, they appointed their retinue in Ministries and their deputies. Subsequently, they took control of governors' position throughout the country and appointed new ambassadors in order to coordinate the economic affairs of the country with the outside world in accordance to security requirements as perceived by the "Supreme National Security Council."
It is rather evident that economic affairs are conducted according to the direction that is set by political and national security apparatus.
A case in point is removing the regime's deposits from Italian banks upon orders of the "Supreme National Security Council". The Head of the Central Bank acted on this order immediately without any regards for economic considerations. This was done to punish Italy that had frozen the deposit of the Iranian embassy in one of the banks of this country and to send a vivid signal to other European countries.
Manipulation of government construction projects by Basij forces
Huge payments by government and by government companies which are earmarked in the budget, including what is paid to government contractors for construction and development projects are the main stimulators in Iranian economy. ( According to fiscal budget of 2006, this is 18,000 billion Tomans, equivalent of $20.5 billion).
In the Budget Law of 2006, it is stipulated that construction projects could be handed to Basij organizations that are under the control of IRGC without being required to go through the formalities of bidding. While in previous administration, the IRGC was able to obtain the contract for huge construction projects including Karkheh dam and Saveh Highway and some contracts in the oil and gas field, but for the first time in the "Budget Law" the IRGC staff are considered as official government contractors.
Smuggling goods to Iran
According to estimates of official sources and the Ministry of Trade, equivalent of 30 percent of goods that are traded at land, sea and air ports officially, are smuggled or traded surreptitiously and illegally. The regime's Customs reported that in 2001 there were 45 ports that import and export of goods from them are not under the control of the regime's Customs.
The Trade Minister of Khatami administration had stated that these ports are primarily under the control of the regime's organs, the military, the IRGC, Basij and other security related organs. (State-controlled Magazine, Refah, July 20, 2002, quoting the Trade Minister of Khatami government.)
In reference to the volume and value of the goods that are smuggled, according to the state-run radio, the Head of State-run Tobacco company said on August 11, 2002 that 75 percent of cigarette consumed in Iran is smuggled to the country with the total value of $800 million to $1 billion annually.
Extensive smuggling of alcoholic beverages is also under the control of IRGC and security personnel.
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