This activity has stirred criticism from some lawmakers who express concern that the Pentagon is creating a parallel intelligence-gathering network independent from the C.I.A. or other American authorities, and one that encroaches on the C.I.A.'s realm.
More than a year before the Iraq war began, Mr. Feith set up an Office of Special Plans, inside of which was a secret team that operated as a kind of parallel intelligence agency with a particular focus on Iraq.
Although rights violations in Iran are largely carried out by a judiciary and parallel intelligence apparatus that act independently of Rouhani's government, the president, as the most senior elected official in the Islamic republic, is responsible under the constitution to protect his citizens.
The reform does not touch the armed forces' parallel intelligence service.
Iran has two parallel intelligence services, often competing and at times at odds with each other.
He interviewed these whistle-blowers and published his reporting in Sme, all while working for this parallel intelligence unit.
