VEVAK
The Ministry of Intelligence (وزارت اطلاعات), is the primary intelligence agency of Iran. It is an important part of the Iranian government's security apparatus, and is well funded and equipped. Before a recent thorough change in the organization, it has been accused by some of being involved in terrorist activities, specifically of training and funding Hezbollah.
Information on the ministry is often difficult to obtain. The organization was intended to replace SAVAK, Iran's intelligence agency during the rule of the Shah, but it is unclear how much continuity there is between the two organizations—while their role is similar, their underlying ideology is radically different. It is suspected that the new government was initially eager to purge SAVAK elements from the new organization, but that pragmatism eventually prevailed, with many experienced SAVAK personnel being retained in their roles. Former SAVAK staff are believed to have been important in the ministry's infiltration of left-wing dissident groups and of the Iraqi Ba'ath Party.
The formation of the ministry was proposed by Saeed Hajjarian to the government and then the parliament. It was then founded in 1984.
This article is a stub. You can help BambooWeb by .
