Sources close to Hamas report that, during his December 10, 2009 meeting in Damascus with Iranian Supreme National Security Council Secretary Saeed Jalili, Hamas Political Bureau Head Khaled Mash'al asked to regulate his movement's relations with the Iranian intelligence Ministry.

According to the report, the relations deteriorated due to attempts by the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) to sabotage them as part of the struggle among Iran's various intelligence apparatuses.

It was further reported that Hamas leaders have been complaining of a domineering attitude towards the movement on the part of the IRGC, and of attempts to dictate its policies.

Source: Al-Siyassa (Kuwait), December 25, 2009