An informed source in the Iranian government said that President Ahmadinejad has announced the removal of Heydar Moslehi from his duties as the minister of intelligence.
It was reported on April 18th in the Iranian media that President Ahmadinejad had fired Moslehi because the he had dismissed several seasoned intelligence officers from the Ministry, but hours later the Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei then reinstated the minister.
The informed source further elaborated that President Ahmadinejad appeared personally before the supreme leader to explain the situation and consequently, Ayatollah Khamenei agreed with Ahmadinejad to release the minister from his duties. President Ahmadinejad is now in command of the Ministry of Intelligence and Security of the Islamic Republic.
Other reports indicate that the collaboration between Heydar Moslehi and Hossein Taeb (the former commander of the Basij who was involved in the bloody suppression of the Iranians demonstrating for freedom, and who now is the head of the Revolutionary Guards’ intelligence unit), to take over control of the said Ministry was the cause for the firing of the minister by Ahmadinejad. Taeb’s intrusion, with the help of Moslehi, meant the Guard’s intelligence unit would take hold of the Intelligence Ministry since Taeb as head of that unit is in opposition to Ahmadinejad.
It seems that divisions within the Iranian establishment have now extended to the intelligence arms of the Guards and Ahmadinejad’s office. This is while the Revolutionary Guards’ newspaper, Javan, warned about the spread of Ahmadinejad’s influence in the Ministry of Intelligence and how his team wants to use the Ministry to further their goals!