The President ordered increased covert operations against Iran, including kidnapping and possibly murder, according to documents reported by the New Yorker and covered in an article by AP. Seymour Hersh's New Yorker article from the issue dated July 7 and 14 is based on a highly classified Presidential Finding signed by President Bush. It is required by U.S. law such a finding must be communicated to Democratic and Republican House and Senate leaders, including ranking members of the intelligence committees.

"The Finding was focused on undermining Iran's nuclear ambitions and trying to undermine the government through regime change," the article cited a person familiar with its contents as saying, and involved "working with opposition groups and passing money."