Iranian press review: Supreme leader's advisor reveals Mossad breach

Middle East Eye

17 hours ago

High-ranking official shares details of Mossad infiltration
Ali Larijani, an advisor to Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and a close ally, has revealed that the Israeli spy agency Mossad carried out psychological operations and had access to senior officials in Iran during the recent war with Israel.
On Monday, Larijani told the ISNA news agency that at the start of the war, he received a phone call warning him to leave Tehran within 12 hours or face the same fate as several assassinated commanders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
He said that other IRGC commanders received similar threats.
Larijani added that on the fourth day of the war, there was an attempt to strike a meeting of Iran's Supreme National Security Council. The attack failed, but he did not give further details.
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He also called for a reassessment of Iran's international ties, saying: 'Iran must review its relations with international organisations and European countries. Throughout the war, they either remained silent or supported the US.'
After the war, Iran's parliament passed a bill to suspend cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog.
Espionage crisis reflects deeper social divisions
Ali Mojtahedzadeh, a lawyer who has represented several political prisoners in recent years, wrote in an opinion piece for the Etemad daily that the large number of alleged spies arrested by the establishment reflects a growing sense of discontent among Iranians.
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Mojtahedzadeh warned that stopping the conflict with Israel does not mean Israel has abandoned its plans against Iran. He said the authorities must be prepared for similar actions in the future.
He also addressed Israel's influence and its access to Iran's military and security information. Referring to government data, he wrote: 'Unfortunately, we know that the level of treason and espionage by some internal elements has been so great that it cannot be seen as an isolated case.'
The prominent Iranian lawyer added: 'The common cause of most betrayals throughout history has been the loss of citizens' sense of belonging, a feeling created by the exclusion and marginalisation of people in social, cultural, economic, political, and security areas.'
Anti-Afghan sentiment grows amid claims of Mossad ties
Since the start of the war between Israel and Iran, Iranian authorities have intensified a campaign against Afghan immigrants and refugees, accusing them of assisting Israel's Mossad and accelerating the deportation of undocumented Afghans.
According to the Shargh daily, over 72,000 undocumented Afghans have left Iran in the past few days, with thousands more crowding the Dogharoun border crossing, waiting to return.
On Friday, Brigadier-General Ahmad Ali Goudarzi, commander of Iran's Border Guard Command, announced a threefold increase in arrests and deportations of Afghan refugees. He also declared: 'Any house or property rented to Afghans is void. The property will be sealed and confiscated.'
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During the 12-day war, state media and outlets close to the IRGC reported arrests of Afghans, claiming they were working with Mossad to target military and civilian sites.
One report claimed that 400 Afghan immigrants were arrested in an underground tunnel for collaborating with Mossad. Although this report was later denied, it sparked a wave of anti-immigrant sentiment in the country.
In response, Seyed Rasoul Misagh, an Afghan immigrant, questioned the truth of these claims in an article.
He wrote: 'Afghan citizens in Iran are being arrested and deported by the police every day. Why would Mossad trust people who are already being hunted?'
He also pointed out that Afghans in Iran face many restrictions, including bans on buying vehicles, getting a driving licence or even travelling between provinces without special permission. He questioned how anyone in such a position could be trusted with sensitive operations.
Reformists call for amnesty for political prisoners
Several reformist political groups, under the name of the Reform Front, have written a letter urging officials to help preserve national unity by releasing political prisoners following the unprovoked Israeli attacks.
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The letter, addressed to the head of the judiciary, who is appointed by the supreme leader, comes amid a tense political climate marked by the widespread arrest of activists and the recent execution of six people accused of espionage.
Part of the letter, published by Iranian media, reads: 'The release of political and ideological prisoners will be an important step in rebuilding national trust. It will also help heal social wounds and strengthen the foundations of the republic.'
Another section of the letter discusses the intentions of the political prisoners: 'These individuals acted with the aim of reforming and serving the country. They followed legal and civil methods. Keeping them in prison will not lead to a positive outcome. This situation only deepens divisions.'
The writers of the letter believe that granting amnesty to these prisoners would promote 'national cohesion' and support 'civil liberties' in the country.
*Iranian press review is a digest of news reports not independently verified as accurate by Middle East Eye.