Latest news with #Mossad
Times
4 hours ago
- Politics
- Times
Israeli spies ‘in Iran for years' before war on nuclear sites
Israel's spies infiltrated the heart of Iran's missile and nuclear programmes to wage years of covert intelligence-gathering and assess that Tehran's weapons-building infrastructure was far more extensive than previously thought. Leaked intelligence documents shared with western allies, including the US and Britain, and seen by The Times, appeared to reveal the full extent of Iran's nuclear and missile ambitions. The conclusion of Israel's spy agency, Mossad, as well as other military intelligence arms, was that the capability, knowledge and components of the regime's development was racing ahead and it was far more extensive than just the main sites at Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan. An intelligence source told The Times on Friday that Israel had been monitoring multiple locations through intelligence agents for years, with each location having 'boots on the ground beforehand'. Israel began readying its attack on Iran from as early as 2010, based on intelligence about its accelerating weapons programme. The documents were leaked amid conflicting reports over the damage to nuclear sites after the 12-day war. While President Trump said the Fordow site had been obliterated by so-called 'bunker buster' bombs, some experts suggest that residual stocks of enriched uranium and manufactured centrifuges may still be able to produce a nuclear weapon in the future. America also mounted attacks on Natanz and Isfahan nuclear sites. Israel's military operation was based on intelligence that identified the production of centrifuges, instruments used to enrich uranium, at three sites in Tehran and Isfahan. All were attacked and destroyed by Israel during the conflict. The attacks also focused on seven separate components in the Natanz facility, Iran's main enrichment site. Intelligence officers used spies on the ground to map the layout of Natanz, identifying overground and underground buildings which included piping, feeding and solidification of uranium. Israel also attacked the electricity infrastructure, a research and development building, the transformer station, and the generator structure to back up the electric grid. The attack also hit ventilation and cooling ducts. As well as Natanz, Israel's reconnaissance infiltrated, attacked and destroyed a facility in Isfahan, the Nur and Mogdeh sites for calculation and labs, the Shariati military site, and the large hangar at Shahid Meisami which manufactured the plastic explosives used for testing nuclear weapons, as well as other advanced materials and chemicals. Many of these sites were set up by the SPND, an umbrella organisation led by Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, an Iranian nuclear physicist who was assassinated in 2020 with a satellite-controlled machine gun — allegedly by Israel. The documents also pointed to the infiltration of the headquarters of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) which was attacked in the later days of the war, and of nuclear sites such as the Sanjarian, which developed components involved in the creation of nuclear weapons, according to Israel. By the end of 2024, Iran had moved from the research stage of weaponisation to creating an advanced explosive and radiation system, running experiments and leading to nuclear capability 'within weeks', according to the report. The scale and detail of the assessment points to years of intelligence gathering which may still be going on. 'You know they have guys that go in there after the hit, and they said it was total obliteration,' Trump told reporters at the Nato summit in the Hague — suggesting that spies may yet remain on Iranian soil. The depth of Israel's infiltration was revealed as early as 2010, when an Iranian nuclear scientist was assassinated in broad daylight. Four others have since been assassinated. However, it was brought to the fore more recently with the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, the Hamas political chief, in July last year, when Mossad hired Iranian security agents to place explosive devices in several rooms of a guesthouse in Tehran. Israeli intelligence also reportedly raised the prospect a few weeks ago of assassinating Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei — something Trump made clear he was against. Posting on Truth Social on Friday, Trump responded to Khamenei's recent claims Iran had given the US a 'big slap in the face', with the US leader saying he 'saved' the Supreme Leader from 'a very ugly and Ignominious death'. 'Why would the so-called 'Supreme Leader', Ayatollah Ali Khamenei… say so blatantly and foolishly that he won the War with Israel, when he knows his statement is a lie,' Trump said, adding he has 'dropped' work around sanctions relief in negotiations with Tehran as a result. The intelligence documents seen by The Times show that Iran was aiming to produce dozens of long-range, surface-to-surface missiles a month, leading to up to 1,000 a year with a reported aim of a stock of 8,000 missiles. Experts estimate Iran began the war with some 2,000 to 2,500 ballistic missiles. Agents in Iran visited every workshop and factory that were later attacked, enabling Israel to target 'the entire industry that supported the manufacturing of large amounts of missiles', according to an intelligence source cited in the documents, which added that the sites were both military and civilian in nature. One such site was Muad Tarkivi Noyad in Rasht, located on the coast of the Caspian Sea, which operated under the auspices of the Iranian Aerospace Industry Organisation. According to Israeli intelligence, this produced all the carbon fibre needed to produce missiles. It too was destroyed by Israeli bombs. MAXAR TECHNOLOGIES/AP The dozens of locations and sites attacked in the last two weeks, including the Parchin military complex 30km southeast of Tehran, as well as sites for guidance, navigation and control of missiles and the production of warheads and engines needed to fly the missiles, reveal a complex production system that took decades to establish. The scale of the infiltration of the Iranian regime has only served to increase paranoia in Tehran. Over the course of the 12 days of hostility, Iran arrested dozens of people suspected of spying. Efforts to hunt moles began after the assassination of Haniyeh, with IRGC members suspecting one another of security breaches. That was illustrated on Friday when Mossad, in a post on X, warned Iranians to stay away from IRGC officials and vehicles belonging to the regime. Israel's methods of recruitment, including that of Iranian insiders, is a guarded secret, but has even prompted a popular spy thriller series, Tehran. One of Mossad's most famous heists within Iran was the seizure of Iranian nuclear archives from a giant safe in 2018. The top-secret documents were were later used as a basis to convince Trump to pull out of the 2015 nuclear deal. Within the agreement, Iran would limit its nuclear programme in return for sanctions relief. • How badly damaged are Iran's nuclear sites and missiles? Araghchi, Iran's foreign minister, admitted on Thursday evening that the Israeli and American campaigns had done 'excessive and serious' damage to the country's nuclear facilities, without giving further details. Araghchi added that there had been 'no agreement' on upcoming nuclear talks with Washington. 'For decades, Israel has been observing activities inside Iran,' said Dr Efrat Sopher, an Iranian-Israeli analyst who chairs the Ezri Centre for Iran and Gulf States Research at the University of Haifa UK. 'Mossad has played a pivotal role in the success in thwarting the Iranian threat, where its successful operations vis-à-vis Iran and its proxies will be chronicled in the history books.'
Shafaq News
12 hours ago
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Trump: I will strike Iran again if it resumes enrichment
Shafaq News – Washington/ Tehran On Friday, US President Donald Trump reiterated that Iran's nuclear sites were not evacuated prior to the airstrikes, noting that the facilities were destroyed despite all the fake news about the achievements of US pilots. Trump stated that Iran is unlikely to restart its nuclear program in the near future, but warned that he would consider launching another strike if Tehran resumed uranium enrichment. He also vowed to respond to Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's recent statement declaring an Iranian 'victory' in the conflict. Both Iran and Israel were exhausted and wanted to bring the confrontation to an end, the US president pointed out, adding that Iran is now seeking to open dialogue with Washington, without offering further details. Calling for renewed inspections, he emphasized that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), or any trusted entity, should be allowed to examine Iranian nuclear sites. Earlier, Trump had claimed that Mossad operatives entered the facility after the bombing and filmed the destruction, claiming the footage would soon be released. He also asserted that the attack had 'completely destroyed' the underground facility. Iranian officials denied allegations by US President Donald Trump that Israeli Mossad agents infiltrated the Fordow nuclear facility. According to Iran's Fars News Agency, sources described the infiltration reports as a 'baseless attempt to manipulate public opinion.' However, Israel's Channel 12 reported that newly obtained satellite images show Iran resuming activity at the Natanz nuclear facility. According to the report, recent movements and visible work at the site suggest that Iranian authorities have begun efforts to extract enriched uranium stored in underground sections of the complex.
Time of India
13 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Inspired by Game of Thrones, Israel's deadly Red Wedding operation took out 30 Iran generals in minutes
Inside Israel's Operation Red Wedding that Killed 30 Top Iranian Generals in Minutes- Israel's Operation Red Wedding has shocked the world with its speed, strategy, and deadly precision. Launched on June 13, the operation saw Israel eliminate 30 senior Iranian military officials in just the first few minutes of a 12-day war. This bold strike, part of a larger campaign known as Operation Rising Lion, was a preemptive move to neutralize Iran's nuclear and missile capabilities before they could pose a greater threat. Here's a detailed breakdown of the operation, how it unfolded, and what it means for the future of Middle East security. How did Operation Red Wedding begin and what was Israel's real plan? Israel launched Operation Red Wedding as part of a wider military effort under Operation Rising Lion. The plan was carefully crafted to deal a major blow to Iran's nuclear ambitions and military leadership. According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), the goal was clear: strike first, neutralize Iran's response capability, and take out key command structures. Within minutes, 30 Iranian generals were dead—most notably Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh, head of Iran's Revolutionary Guards' Aerospace Force. He and other IRGC missile and drone officials were meeting underground to plan Iran's retaliation. Israel's timing was precise—this meeting was specifically targeted in a coordinated, multi-front strike. What role did deception and surprise play in Israel's strategy? The name 'Red Wedding' was inspired by the brutal betrayal scene in Game of Thrones , and the strategy behind it echoed that fictional massacre. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly faked taking time off for his son's wedding while finalizing plans for the surprise attack. Even his wife Sarah and son Avner were unaware that the event was a cover to lull Iran into complacency. Israeli intelligence played a major role in gathering data on high-level targets and orchestrating the perfect moment to strike. This included feeding false signals to Iran, which helped pull together key military figures into one location. What were the results of Israel's simultaneous operations? Within hours, Israel expanded the attack. Operation Narnia, another covert strike, targeted Iran's nuclear scientists. Nine senior Iranian scientists working on nuclear weapons were killed in separate but timed strikes. This all happened as more than 200 Israeli jets conducted raids on multiple Iranian nuclear facilities. In total, the IDF hit 100 strategic targets using 330 precision munitions. These included uranium enrichment plants, ballistic missile launch sites, and command centers. Israeli forces also crippled Iranian air defenses and drone systems. By the end of the 12-day campaign, Israel claimed to have fully met and exceeded all military objectives. Was Mossad operating from inside Iran? One of the most shocking revelations came from reports that Mossad, Israel's intelligence agency, had smuggled commandos and weapon systems into Iran ahead of the strike. Video footage published by Israeli media appeared to show Mossad operatives guiding drone strikes from within Iranian territory. These agents were reportedly stationed at a secret base inside Iran, playing a direct role in the early strikes on missile batteries. Their role was to provide real-time intelligence and mark critical targets for precision strikes, adding another layer of coordination to the operation. Live Events How did the United States support the mission, and what was Trump's role? U.S. President Donald Trump, still in office, supported Israel by deploying advanced American weapons to join the mission. On June 22, the U.S. dropped twelve GBU-57 'bunker buster' bombs—each weighing 30,000 pounds—on Iran's hardest-to-reach underground nuclear facilities. These strikes added significant pressure to Iran's already crumbling defense posture. Within 24 hours of these attacks, Iran launched a weak counterstrike targeting a U.S. air base in Qatar. But the attempt failed, as Iran had provided early warnings, allowing all rockets to be intercepted. A ceasefire was brokered shortly after. How is Iran reacting, and what is the Ayatollah's next move? Despite suffering heavy losses—including dozens of top military leaders and nuclear scientists—Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei claimed victory. Speaking from a hidden underground bunker, Khamenei declared that Iran had delivered a 'severe slap' to both Israel and the United States. However, analysts say his speech was more propaganda than fact. Israel retains air superiority over Tehran, and the IDF dismantled Iran's strategic weapons systems in under two weeks. Khamenei, now 86, has not been seen in public for over two weeks and remains in hiding amid fears of further assassination attempts. What does this mean for the future of Iran and the Middle East? Calls for regime change in Iran have grown louder in the wake of the conflict. Many within the Iranian public and global observers are pushing for a democratic transition. Meanwhile, President Trump hinted at supporting this movement, posting 'Make Iran Great Again' on Truth Social. Still, the White House clarified that official U.S. policy doesn't yet include regime change. Tensions in the region remain high, and while the ceasefire holds for now, the political and military fallout from Operation Red Wedding is far from over. FAQs: What is Operation Red Wedding in Israel's attack on Iran? Operation Red Wedding was Israel's surprise mission to kill top Iranian generals in a preemptive strike. How did Israel target Iran's nuclear scientists in Operation Rising Lion? Israel used drones and airstrikes to kill nine top Iranian nuclear scientists working on bomb development.
International Business Times
13 hours ago
- Politics
- International Business Times
Who Is Catherine Perez-Shakdam? The 'Mossad' Spy Who Reportedly Helped Israel Strike Iran From Within
In what is being called one of the most precise and damaging operations in recent memory, Israel launched Operation Rising Lion on June 13, 2025. The nighttime aerial assault involved warplanes and drones breaching Iranian airspace, targeting key military and missile infrastructures. The operation was not just a military success—it was also an intelligence triumph years in the making. At the center of it all is Catherine Perez-Shakdam, a French-born Mossad agent who penetrated deep into Iran's leadership circles. Reports suggest that the operation led to the deaths of nearly 15 senior Iranian commanders. While the strike seemed sudden to the world, Israeli intelligence had spent years crafting this mission. Much of its success is now being credited to Shakdam, a woman whose journey from Paris to Tehran reads like a modern-day spy thriller. Catherine Perez-Shakdam was raised in a secular Jewish family in France. In a carefully planned move, she married a Muslim Yemeni man she met in London, converted to Islam, and eventually moved to Yemen. Her transformation gave her a new identity, allowing her to write for regional media and gradually earn credibility as a voice sympathetic to Iran. By 2017, she was working as a journalist with Russian state broadcaster RT and had started forming links with Iran's top brass. Shakdam was eventually invited to Iran, where she not only embraced Shia Islam publicly but was also given access to influential government officials. She met with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, General Qassem Soleimani, and later President Ebrahim Raisi. Over time, she gained the trust of key regime members, particularly the wives of top military officials. Using her charm and journalistic cover, Shakdam was allowed into homes, meetings, and even sensitive military zones. While publicly penning articles that aligned with Iran's ideological views, she secretly collected valuable intelligence. Photographs she took and articles she wrote were used as tools to feed data back to Israel. Her writings even appeared on Khamenei's official website before being swiftly erased once her identity was exposed. Catherine's exact whereabouts remain unknown. She disappeared just three days before the June 13 attack. Iran has since launched a nationwide manhunt and executed several suspected collaborators. Some believe she has assumed a new identity and is living under the radar, continuing to work for Israeli intelligence. Her story has become a symbol of high-stakes espionage—where a single individual, through calculated deception, charm, and intelligence, can reshape the course of geopolitical conflicts. Shakdam's case underscores how warfare today isn't just fought with weapons, but also with information and infiltration.
France 24
15 hours ago
- Politics
- France 24
Iran arrests 700 'Israeli agents', but where are the weapons?
The reports show men in prison jumpsuits confessing that they were recruited as Israeli spies, along with weapons they were supposedly planning to use. Analysts say the confessions are probably coerced, and an analysis of the images by the FRANCE 24 Observers team found no evidence of any Israeli-made weapons among the supposed seizures. For its part, Iran is attempting to present itself as successfully arresting Israeli operatives and confiscating their weapons. The so-called "seized weapons' and arrested 'Mossad agents' appear to be staged, as there is no credible evidence to substantiate these claims. The 12-day war between Iran and Israel was, among other things, a devastating blow to Iranian intelligence. The Israeli military had precise intelligence on high-ranking generals, allowing them to successfully target and killing of at least 29 of them. And Israel's intelligence agency, the Mossad, apparently succeeded in recruiting large numbers of Iranians to serve as agents on the ground in the deployment of guided missiles and FPVs. In the days after the initial Israeli attack on June 13, the Iranian authorities showed numerous images of abandoned vehicles and equipment left behind after their use in Israel's attack. They also showed images of spent munitions, including the casings of Israeli-made short-range Spike missiles, along with cars used to transport these missiles and suicide drones deep into Iran, as well as Israeli makeshift drone factories within the country – all of which reveals that Israeli intelligence had successfully recruited and infiltrated Iran on a large scale. The Iranian intelligence services have not, however, shown any conclusive evidence to date of weapons they seized intact, before their deployment by supposed agents inside Iran. The regime in Tehran claims to have arrested 700 Israeli operatives in 12 days, many of whom could potentially face execution. The arrested suspects are accused of planning to use attack drones, building bombs, spying on military sites, and transmitting information to Israel, according to Iranian media. State media also reported that at least six men accused of spying for Israel in the past had been executed since the Israeli attack on June 13. On June 25, Iran executed three Kurdish men—Edris Ali, Azad Shojaei, and Rasoul Ahmad Mohammad—who had been sentenced to death in 2023 on charges of smuggling assassination tools into the country for Israel. Iran's judiciary reported that three other men – Madjid Mossayebi, Esmaeil Fekri, and Mohammad Amin Shayesteh – had also been executed since June 13. State-affiliated media in Iran have published reports interviewing purported Israeli agents and showcasing 'seized' weapons. However, in two instances where state media have presented images of these confiscated weapons, the photographs appear to be either fake or staged. The first case occurred on June 24, 2025, when the Iranian ministry of intelligence claimed to have seized 402 drones in two cities in southern Iran's Hormozgan province. State media reporting on the seizure broadcast a photograph showing five attack drones with blue batteries. However, the photo is unrelated to Iran. It was taken in Ukraine in May by an Associated Press photographer, and shows attack drones made by the Ukrainian army for use against their Russian enemies. A TV report on the supposed Hormozgan seizure by state broadcaster IRIB used different images. The report showed stacks of commercially available consumer drones in their original packaging, including models that are too small to carry munitions. In a second report, on June 24, state media broadcast images of six men in prison uniforms with their backs to the camera being questioned by a security officer. The men say they had been contacted by Mossad via social media and began cooperating with them. The report also showed a row of various weapons displayed on a table, supposedly seized from the alleged Israeli agents. But nearly all the displayed weapons are manufactured in Iran. The video showed an Iranian-made man-portable air-defence system, the 'Misagh-3'. It also showed an Iranian-made drone, the 'Shahin-1,' recently added to the Iranian military's arsenal. The video also showed two mortar shells, one of which is made in China, and the other in the former Yugoslavia — both of which are commonly found in Iran's military stock. The presence of Iranian-made weapons, coupled with the absence of any Israeli or Western-made arms, raises further suspicion that the arrest and seizure may have been staged. Afghan immigrants new enemies of the state Since the onset of the 12-day war, rumours and reports circulating on social media have suggested that Afghan nationals are cooperating with Israel as foot soldiers. These reports allege that some Afghan immigrants in Iran are engaged in spying, planting bombs, and piloting drones on behalf of the Israeli Mossad. State television has also aired reports of arrested Afghan citizens "confessing" to being Israeli assets, transferring sensitive information, and planning to plant bombs at the direction of their Israeli handlers. According to Iranian media, at least five Afghan nationals have been arrested since the start of the 12-day war. Estimates suggest that between 5 to 8 million Afghan immigrants live in Iran, the majority of whom are considered "illegal" immigrants. In this context, on June 27, Iranian media announced that police had been ordered to deport all illegal Afghan immigrants. The media also reported that renting property to these immigrants would result in the confiscation of the property. While anti-Afghan sentiment in Iran has long been prevalent — especially since the most recent wave of immigration beginning in 2021 — this sentiment has surged dramatically since the 12-day war. Historically, Afghan immigrants in Iran have been targets of attacks over crimes such as theft, rape, and drug-related offenses. However, this marks the first time they have faced accusations of espionage and collaboration with Israel.
