UN Sanctions target the Pasradan
Teheran (AsiaNews) – In a novel move Security Council resolution 1737, to be voted on later this week, targets Iran’s “revolutionary guards” or Pasradan. Unsurprisingly, the resolution itself does not contain many new measures. However the international community’s common accord regarding Iran’s nuclear programme is significant. This progressive consensus among the world’s nations sends a clear signal to the Tehran regime.
The sanctions are not aimed at the mullah, rather the regimes less visible strongmen, the “Revolutionary Guards” (Pasdaran or Sepah). The Iranian regime is not only clerical. It is also “military”. Alongside the regular army is a parallel armed force, which boasts infantry, marines and an air force, better equipped than the army itself: the Pasdaran. They control the country’s missile programme. The pasradan also guard the country’s borders and drug trade (they police and are at the same time involved in the lucrative business). They own industries and banks. They send Special Forces abroad on foreign missions to aid armed groups, or as in the past, to assassinate opposition supporters: known as the “Al-Qods” (“the holy”, name of Jerusalem used by Muslims).
Among the proposed resolution’s new moves are restrictions on foreign travel for all Pasradan leaders, including those belonging to the “Al-Qods”, as well as an asset freeze. It is suspected that these Pasradan finance terrorist groups and the acquisition of illegal materials for “dual use”. Other planned restrictions include a ban on the exportation of all military arms. However the absence of a ban on Iran importing military weapons perplexes, instead goods the country imports will only be subjected to strict controls.
Seven “Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps key persons” are listed in the draft resolution – a clear sign to other Pasradan leaders. Majority of Ahmadinejad’s ministers belong to the pasdaran. Teheran’s mayor, Qalibaf, is a pasdaran, who co-signed a letter long with 23 colleagues, threatening Khatami with a military coup because the “reformist” president was not sever enough in his repression of student dissidents. Ahmadinejad was elected largely thanks to Pasradan support and that of the youth movement, the Bassij (“volunteers”) which also permitted their return en force, along with them social and political repression. It is interesting to note that the leader the Bassij also figures on the list of the seven “key persons”.
Observers in Teheran maintain the UN’s symbolic attack on the Pasradan, their leaders and international interests, is an example of “smart sanctions”, which targets the political authorities without punishing the whole of society. The fact that the formal political leaders (Supreme Leader, President of the Republic, etc...) are not named on the list is of note – thus leaving a channel of dialogue open without directly attacking the State. Ahmadinejad is taking full advantage of this move, with a possible visit to the Security Council in New York rumoured for next Wednesday.
There are some Iranian politicians who have advised against the visit, in order to avoid “legitimizing” the Security Council – a sign of Iran’s increasing isolation…As of next Tuesday this isolation will be almost total, because during the celebration of Nowruz, the Iranian New Year, it is prohibited for papers to go to print for the duration of the holiday – almost ten days of press silence.
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