The Iranian Ministry of Intelligence announced, on Sunday, the dismantling of two cells that it said were linked to the Israeli intelligence service, Mossad, in security operations carried out in several provinces inside the country, indicating the thwarting of plans that targeted sensitive sites and assassinations inside Iran.
In an official statement, the ministry confirmed that the security services monitored an operational cell consisting of 4 people in West Azerbaijan province, and were able to arrest its members before carrying out “terrorist operations” targeting sensitive centers and an assassination attempt inside the capital, Tehran.
The statement added that one of the cell members was killed during a clash with Iranian security forces during the operation.
The Ministry also announced the dismantling of a second cell in Kerman and Alborz provinces, noting that the operation came after “careful intelligence monitoring,” and that all members of the network were arrested before carrying out any field action.
According to the statement, during the operations, the Iranian services seized a number of equipment and weapons, including small drones, a vehicle designated for transporting equipment, three pistols equipped with silencers, bullet-proof vests, a Winchester rifle, and a sniper rifle, in addition to large quantities of ammunition.
The authorities also announced the seizure of a “Starlink” satellite communications device, indicating the use of advanced communications technologies within networks that Tehran says are linked to the Mossad.
In a related context, the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence revealed the arrest of a person it described as a “traitor to the homeland” called “Masoud – T,” accusing him of trying to smuggle confidential information related to one of the military centers in the Qazvin Governorate out of the country.
She explained that his arrest took place at one of the northern border crossings while he was trying to leave Iran.
These developments come in light of the escalation of the security and intelligence confrontation between Iran and Israel, coinciding with the regional war and ongoing military tensions in the Gulf and the region.
In recent years, Tehran has repeatedly announced the dismantling of networks that it said were working for the Mossad, accusing Israel of carrying out assassinations and sabotage operations inside Iranian territory, especially with regard to the nuclear file and military installations.
On the other hand, Israel continues to accuse Iran of expanding its military and intelligence activity in the region, amid an unprecedented escalation in the level of the security war between the two parties.
