US had planned expanded covert ops in Iran: Hersh

The Bush administration told Congress last year of a secret plan to dramatically expand covert operations inside Iran as part of a long-running effort to destabilise the country8217;s ruling regime, according to a report published on Sunday.

The plan allowed up to 400 million in covert spending for activities ranging from spying on Iran8217;s nuclear program to supporting rebel groups opposed to the country8217;s ruling clerics, veteran investigative journalist Seymour Hersh reported in the New Yorker magazine. While the administration has been waging a low-grade covert campaign against Iran for at least three years8212;consisting mainly of cross-border raids targeting groups tied to attacks against US forces in Iraq8212;the new policy represents a significant expansion, the report contends. The prospect of a broader covert presence inside Iran also has raised concerns among some congressional and military officials about a possible escalation leading to a broader military conflict, it states.

The article drew a sharp reaction from administration officials who denied that US forces were engaged in operations inside Iran. 8220;I can tell you flatly that US forces are not operating across the Iraqi border into Iran, in the south or anywhere else,8221; US Ambassador to Iraq Ryan C. Crocker said in an interview on CNN.

Hersh reported that the approval for expanded covert authority was contained in a 8220;Presidential Finding,8221; a classified document that lays the legal groundwork for all covert activities by US intelligence officials. The Iranian finding was presented late last year to a group of eight congressional leaders8212;the top Democrat and Republican in the Senate, House and intelligence committees of both chambers. In theory, Congress can challenge a proposed covert action by denying funding.