The Iranian Fars news agency reported on Sunday afternoon the arrest of three individuals believed to be operatives of the Israeli Mossad. These individuals were allegedly planning to carry out a drone attack on Iran from the border with Afghanistan.
According to the report, "as a result of intelligence cooperation between the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence and the Taliban, a potential drone attack on Iran was successfully thwarted." The agency claimed that the three suspects arrested had Iranian citizenship and were allegedly plotting to launch drones as part of their operation. It is further claimed that they will soon be transferred to Iran for further investigation.
#BreakingNews
— Geo Maestro (@mavi9261) November 5, 2023
According to Iran's state news agency, IRNA, three individuals believed to be Mossad agents from Israel have been arrested near the Iranian-Afghan border.
They were apprehended in a joint operation conducted by the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence and the… pic.twitter.com/XlydJjCVxj
However, it's important to note that this report has not been independently confirmed by other sources. The Iranian Ministry of Intelligence has previously announced the thwarting of alleged "espionage networks" linked to Mossad. In the past, similar raids and arrests have been reported in the country, suggesting a history of cooperation between Iranian authorities and the Taliban. For instance, in December 2022, it was claimed that "six squads working for Mossad were arrested, including 23 individuals."
This recent development comes in the wake of reports from the Iranian news agency "Tasnim," stating that Iran's supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, held a meeting with the political leader of Hamas, Ismail Haniyeh. According to the Al Mayadeen network, during their meeting, Haniyeh provided a comprehensive overview of the latest developments in Gaza and the West Bank. Khamenei emphasized the need for "serious action by Islamic countries, international organizations, as well as practical support from Muslim governments for the residents of Gaza." He also made a direct accusation, stating that "Israel's actions in Gaza are being carried out with the direct support of the United States and some Western countries."
Concurrently, Khamenei did not hesitate to lay the blame squarely on the United States for the ongoing conflict. Iranian Defense Minister Mohammad-Reza Ashtiani issued a direct threat to the U.S. following the conflict in Israel. Ashtiani warned on Sunday that if the U.S. does not take immediate steps to halt the Israeli attack on Hamas, it could face severe consequences at the hands of Iran or its proxies in the region.
Mossad agents were arrested in a joint operation by Iran Intelligence Ministry and Taliban in mountainous area near Iran-Afghanistan border.
— Iran Observer (@IranObserver0) November 5, 2023
The spies had planned to launch suicide drones from Afghan border toward targets in Iran.
They will soon be transferred to Iran pic.twitter.com/lhWJuanW5X
"Our advice to the Americans is to promptly cease the hostilities in Gaza and implement a ceasefire; otherwise, they will suffer significant consequences," Ashtiani told the semi-official Tasnim news agency. It's worth noting that Iranian-linked militias in the Middle East have previously attempted to target American interests in Iraq and Syria with drone and rocket attacks on U.S. military bases in the region.
