London: Iran is setting up a network of terror cells in Africa to attack US and other Western targets in retaliation for Washington's decision to impose sanctions against Tehran, according to Western security officials.

The network has been established on the orders of Qassem Suleimani, head of the Quds Force, the elite section of Iran's Republican Guard Corps with responsibility for overseas operations.

Its aim is to target US and other Western military bases on the continent, as well as embassies and officials. The cells are said to be active in a number of African countries, including Sudan, Chad, Ghana, Niger, Gambia and the Central African Republic.

A senior Western security source told The Daily Telegraph: "This is all part of Tehran's attempts to expand its terrorist operations across the globe." Intelligence officials say Iran has been working on setting up the network since signing the nuclear deal on freezing its uranium enrichment activities with the US and other major world powers in 2015.