Iran not considering report about Bush directive to Widen War on Iran: FM spokesman

Secret Bush "Finding" Widens War on Iran

Six weeks ago, President Bush signed a secret finding authorizing a covert offensive against the Iranian regime that, according to those familiar with its contents, "unprecedented in its scope."

Bush's secret directive covers actions across a huge geographic area – from Lebanon to Afghanistan – but is also far more sweeping in the type of actions permitted under its guidelines – up to and including the assassination of targeted officials. This widened scope clears the way, for example, for full support for the military arm of Mujahedin-e Khalq, the cultish Iranian opposition group, despite its enduring position on the State Department's list of terrorist groups.

-Andrew Cockburn, CounterPunch

Tehran, May 5, IRNA - Foreign Ministry spokesman, Mohammad-Ali Hosseini said on Monday that reports about a secret order by the US president to kill Iranian officials were not confirmed and that Iran would not pay any attention to suspicious reports.

He was responding to a question about a report carried by Counterpunch web newsletter that US President George W. Bush has authorized a covert operation to set the stage for a military offensive against Iran.

Counterpunch web newsletter has reported that the US president signed a secret order in March authorizing a covert offensive against Iran, which those familiar with its contents believe to be 'unprecedented in its scope'.

Actions permitted under the secret directive include
'assassination of targeted officials' along with operations across an extensive geographic area from Lebanon to Afghanistan, Counterpunch added.

"The accuracy of the report is not confirmed," Hosseini told reporters at his weekly press briefing.

He added that Tehran would not give any importance to reports with no reliable source.