A radical Iranian group with ties to the government is reportedly seeking volunteers to carry out suicide bombings in Israel and Iraq. 

The Headquarters for Commemorating Martyrs of the Global Islamic Movement, which was first convened in June 2004, held the May 12th rally in Behesht-e-Zahra cemetery, near Teheran, to attract new recruits to carry out suicide attacks. Over 200 people, mostly young women, signed up to receive training from the group.  According to the organization's spokesman, Mohammad Ali Samadi, the 200 volunteers are to be trained in conducting suicide attacks against Israelis, Americans in Iraq and the author Salman Rushdie.  The group also announced the formation of a suicide bombers squad charged with the protection of the Al Aksa Mosque in Jerusalem. 

This was the third such rally held by the group. In each of the previous gatherings, 200 volunteers were also recruited, though it is not known if any have actually carried out a suicide bombing. Most of the volunteers were allegedly members of a paramilitary group called the Basji militia and have already received some military training.  During the rally, many of them shouted "Death to America" and wore white shrouds – indicating that they were willing to die as martyrs.

The Headquarters for Commemorating Martyrs of the Global Islamic Movement is supported by hard-line members of the Iranian government, including Mahdi Kouchakzadeh, a member of Parliament, and General Hossein Salami of the Revolutionary Guards.  Many other officials in the Iranian government, however, including a spokesman for the Foreign Ministry and the Deputy Interior Minister for Security Affairs Ali Asghar Ahmadi, have distanced themselves from the group and stress that the government does not support its activities.