"Highly secret intelligence information, confirmed by overt sources points to the fact that the United States has reached the conclusion that direct attack on Islamic Republic is the only solution and think that in the chaotic, uncertain and crisis-bound post 11 September atmosphere, it can attain its goals", the IRGC said in a communiqué published late Saturday night.

Iranian political observers and analysts immediately said the statement has been issued with full blessing from Ayatollah Ali Khameneh'i, the lamed and growingly weakened leader of the Iranian theocracy.

The communiqué was issued after some highly influential conservative clerics, chief among them Ayatollah Mohammad Taqi Mesbah Yazdi, had urged the Guards to "do something against those who have occupied important posts from where they propagate liberalism and secularism while ridiculing the clergy, Islam and revolutionary values".

"Opponents of the Islamic state, who had infiltrated the regime, were hoping to take advantage of the country's economic woes to sweep elections due over the next three years and introduce a secular regime amenable to the Islamic Republic's enemies", the Guards Corps's high command charged in the controversial statement.

"In the past few months these people have exceeded all bounds by openly supporting subversion on the streets, discussing prostitution and plotting to win the forthcoming elections by taking advantage of social discontent with slogans like: "Freedom for boys and girls", and "freedom to watch satellite television", the statement went on.

Warning the people against the "conspiracies and threats" by the United States, which is "seriously considering to attack Iran", the IRGC said the "current which is profiting from the widespread freedoms to challenge revolutionary and Islamic values and sow seeds of discord among Iranians is playing the role of America’s fifth column".

"This tendency, which perhaps in the past was with the Islamic revolution, has succeeded in increasing the number of its supporters and has even infiltrated the regime.

"As for us, we will safeguard the revolution and stand ready to defend our beloved country and our people who have always remained faithful to the foundations and principles of the revolution."

"Pasdaran’s saying that deployment of US forces in Afghanistan, the preparation for attacks on Iraq and dispatching forces to the countries around Iran are all in line with the US strategy to finally launch attack on Iran is a political statement that is in flagrant contradiction with the government’s official policy", the pro-reform "No Rooz" newspaper observed.

Noting that the Guard’s communiqué was issued only one day after the anti-US demonstrations ordered by Mr. Khameneh'i and orchestrated by the authorities on Friday, the paper asked whether the Guards had the right to interfere in political matters and could the Guards commander have an analysis different from the leader?

"It is a matter of great regret and pity that the Revolutionary Guards, who have the honourable duty of defending the nation’s borders against invaders has lowered itself to the rank of supporter of a minority that, thanks to the powers it enjoys, is clinching to the power", said Dr. Mohammad Reza Khatami, the President’s younger brother who is both the General Secretary of the Islamic Iran Participation Party and Majles’ first deputy Speaker.

Reformist lawmakers also criticised the Guard’s communiqué, objecting angrily to the parts in which the statement accused the reformers of becoming America’s "fifth column, paving the way for the enemy".

"It is not to the IRGC to intervene in political matters, siding with one current of the establishment and acting as its political wing", said Mr. Tarkashvand, of the IIPP majority fraction in the Majles.

Mr. Rajab’ali Mazroo’i, another reformist MM (Member of the Majles) announced that more than 90 deputies intend to call on the Defence Minister for explanation and warned that such unconsidered statements in the present situation of the country is "counterproductive".

But conservatives-controlled press rushed to the defence of the Guard’s action, observing that defending and safeguarding Islamic revolution from its enemies is the prime duty of the Pasdaran.

In a speech last week, Ayatollah Khameneh'i harshly attacked President George W. Bush’s recent statement supporting Iranian reformers and elected bodies while condemning the "non-elected officials who continue with their destructive and uncompromising policies".

He, as well as other high-ranking officials, including President Mohammad Khatami and Ayatollah Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, the influential Chairman of the powerful Expediency Council denounced the statement as a "flagrant and gross interference in Iran's domestic affairs" and attacked Iranian reformers who support the idea of dialogue and normalisation with Washington.

In his statement, President Bush said non-elected Iranian officials "should listen" to the people's hopes," adding "As we have witnessed over the past few days, the people of Iran want the same freedoms, human rights and opportunities as people around the world.

"In the last two Iranian presidential elections and in nearly a dozen parliamentary and local elections, the vast majority of the Iranian people voted for political and economic reform. Yet their voices are not being listened to by the un-elected people who are the real rulers of Iran", Bush said.

"Bush's statement aimed at creating a rift between the regime's officials, hopelessness among the people and a separation among the regime's bodies", Mr. Khameneh'i said, calling on rival factions to refrain from engaging in "disputes" and put up a united front against the "enemy".

"Under these sensitive circumstances, unity, awareness and resistance will help our country to emerge from this twisted road", Mr. Khameneh'i said in answer to the US leader.

"America, from under the shadow of war and death, has officially threatened to overthrow Iran and at the same time it speaks of democracy, freedom and the people's right to choose", he added.