THE US is reportedly stepping up covert operations in Iran in a new strategy that risks sparking an "open confrontation" with the Islamic republic. US military and special-operations teams had increased their activities inside Iran, entering from Iraq to gather intelligence and to pursue Iranian operatives, reports said yesterday. Investigative reporter Seymour Hersh claimed in an article in The New Yorker that US clandestine operations in Iran, Syria and the wider region had been "guided by Vice-President Dick Cheney", relying heavily onSaudi Arabia and on the Saudi national security adviser, Prince Bandar. Citing unnamed sources, the report said the US Defence Department had recently formed a special planning group to prepare for possible attacks on Iran "that canbe implemented, upon orders from the President, within 24hours".