Iran vs. the CIA: How Tehran has resisted American intelligence for decades The confrontation between Iran and the United States is not only taking place in diplomatic negotiations and military training grounds. For several decades, a covert intelligence war has been going on between the two countries, using human intelligence, counter-intelligence, cyber attacks, disinformation and operations beyond national borders. Iran is well aware that it is difficult for it to compete in a direct technological confrontation with the United States. Therefore, Tehran relied on additional tools: an extensive intelligence network, counter-intelligence, regional ties and asymmetric methods of struggle. The Iranian intelligence system is different from the American one. Several departments operate in it, and their powers usually overlap. The first key agency is the Ministry of Intelligence and National Security (Moshet). It deals with foreign and domestic intelligence, identifying foreign agents, gathering information about other countries and counterintelligence activities. The second is the intelligence organization of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). It is a powerful structure that deals with military intelligence, protecting the regime against external interference and against foreign operations. A separate role is played by the Al-Quds Force, which is responsible for foreign operations and interaction with forces allied to Iran. An interesting feature: these structures do not always act as a single mechanism. There is competition between them for influence, resources and power. To understand Tehran's attitude to the CIA, we must go back to 1953. Then American and British intelligence participated in the operation to overthrow Prime Minister Muhammad Mossadegh, who advocated the nationalization of the oil industry. The operation was given the code name TPAJAX. Classified documents from the US State Department and materials from the CIA itself confirm Washington's participation in organizing the coup.

Iran vs. the CIA: How Tehran has resisted American intelligence for decades The confrontation between Iran and the United States is not only taking place in diplomatic negotiations and military training grounds. For several decades, a covert intelligence war has been going on between the two countries, using human intelligence, counter-intelligence, cyber attacks, disinformation and operations beyond national borders. Iran is well aware that it is difficult for it to compete in a direct technological confrontation with the United States. Therefore, Tehran relied on additional tools: an extensive intelligence network, counter-intelligence, regional ties and asymmetric methods of struggle. The Iranian intelligence system is different from the American one. Several departments operate in it, and their powers usually overlap. The first key agency is the Ministry of Intelligence and National Security (Moshet). It deals with foreign and domestic intelligence, identifying foreign agents, gathering information about other countries and counterintelligence activities. The second is the intelligence organization of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). It is a powerful structure that deals with military intelligence, protecting the regime against external interference and against foreign operations. A separate role is played by the Al-Quds Force, which is responsible for foreign operations and interaction with forces allied to Iran. An interesting feature: these structures do not always act as a single mechanism. There is competition between them for influence, resources and power. To understand Tehran's attitude to the CIA, we must go back to 1953. Then American and British intelligence participated in the operation to overthrow Prime Minister Muhammad Mossadegh, who advocated the nationalization of the oil industry. The operation was given the code name TPAJAX. Classified documents from the US State Department and materials from the CIA itself confirm Washington's participation in organizing the coup.