KEY POINTS
- Iran’s Revolutionary Guards claim 600 Mossad agents are behind nationwide protests.
- Turkiye’s foreign minister accused Mossad of exploiting public grievances to destabilise Iran.
- Iran warned the US that any military attack would trigger retaliation against Israel and US bases.
- Trump said the US was “ready to help” protesters and has been briefed on possible military options.
- Protests continue across Iran amid an internet blackout and security crackdown.
TEHRAN, Iran: Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have claimed to have identified 600 agents linked to Israel’s Mossad intelligence service whom they accuse of instigating and coordinating protests across the country.
According to Tasnim news agency, a Telegram channel affiliated with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said the hacking group “Handala”, linked to the Guards, had published identity documents of “600 Mossad agents” operating inside Iran.
The hacking group claimed to have uncovered an Israeli agent who was “coordinating Mossad operations in Iran”.
Tasnim reported that the hackers released a PDF document containing names and phone numbers from Iran, Israel, the United Kingdom, Canada and other countries.
Some names were written in Hebrew, while others appeared to be Iranian names written in English.
The hacking group, according to Tasnim, also released several videos, which it said were filmed outside the home of a Mossad agent.
That individual was accused of playing “a major role in organising and directing networks behind the unrest inside Iran”.
According to the report, all the Mossad agents were said to be in contact with a person identified as Mehrdad Rahimi, whom the group described as Mossad’s official inside Iran and accused of involvement in “spreading chaos and terror”. No independent verification of the claims was possible.
Regional reactions
Turkiye’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan also accused Israel’s intelligence agency of exploiting unrest in the country.
“These protests, which stemmed from genuine grievances, are being manipulated by Iran’s rivals from outside. The Mossad does not hide this,” Fidan said in an interview broadcast on Turkish state broadcaster TRT.
He said Israel was using public grievances to pit the Iranian people against their government and warned that such interference must be prevented.
“We are prepared to act on this matter by using any means necessary,” he said, while adding that Iran’s internal issues should be addressed through negotiations.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Sunday that “rioters” should not be allowed to disrupt Iranian society.
“The people (of Iran) should not allow rioters to disrupt society. The people should believe that we (the government) want to establish justice,” he told state broadcaster IRIB.
Iran warns US and Israel
Meanwhile, Iran warned the United States against any military action. Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said on Sunday that any US attack would prompt Tehran to strike back against Israel and US military bases in the region, which he described as “legitimate targets”.
Israel, meanwhile, has gone on high alert over the possibility of US intervention, according to three Israeli sources cited by Reuters.
The sources said the alert followed internal security consultations but did not specify what measures were being taken.
President Donald Trump has repeatedly warned Iran’s leaders against using force on demonstrators. On Saturday, he said the United States stood “ready to help”.
“Iran is looking at FREEDOM, perhaps like never before. The USA stands ready to help!!!” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.
Trump has also been briefed on possible military options. The New York Times reported that senior US defence and security officials presented Trump with a range of potential military scenarios involving Iran.
The report said the discussions were part of routine contingency planning and that no final decision had been taken.
US officials cited by The New York Times warned that any military action could have serious regional consequences.
Protests and crackdown
Meanwhile, nationwide demonstrators pressed ahead with protests despite a crackdown and an internet blackout.
The demonstrations began two weeks ago over economic hardship and have since spread nationwide.
Iran has blamed the United States for the unrest. Internet monitoring group NetBlocks reported that connectivity has been almost entirely cut since Thursday.
State television aired images of funerals for members of the security forces killed during the unrest and showed buildings, including a mosque, set on fire.
Iran’s army said it would “vigorously protect and safeguard national interests” against an enemy seeking to disrupt order.
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in a speech on Friday, accused “vandals” of acting on Trump’s behalf.
Meanwhile, European Union Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Europe supported Iranians’ mass protests and condemned the “violent repression” of demonstrators.
Protests were reported in several cities, including Tehran, Mashhad, Tabriz, Qom and Hamedan. Videos verified by AFP showed crowds chanting slogans, cars honking in support and fireworks being set off.
