The signatories include former Undersecretaries of State Tom Pickering and Nick Burns, Ambassadors Ryan Crocker, Daniel Kurtzer and Frank Wisner.

BBC: Iran once again at centre of US divide

Bush must pick not only candidates for high-level Cabinet posts, but undersecretaries, ambassadors and directors of bureaus and other government services -- not to mention appointees to a number of boards, commissions, and government advisory panels subject to the president's review.

CNN: Bush transition can shift to high gear

"Today the guard has evolved into a socio-military-political-economic force with influence reaching deep into Iran's power structure, " the CFR says, noting that several current and former IRGC members have been appointed to positions as ambassadors, mayors, undersecretaries, provincial governors and cabinet ministers.

CNN: Why Iran unrest is not revolution re-run