Iran blames foreign intelligence for recent protest movement

Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian has accused foreign countries, specifically Israel and the United States, of being behind recent unrest in the country. On Monday, Pezeshkian stated that “the same people who struck this country” during a 12-day war with Israel last June are now involved in fomenting unrest. He claimed that these individuals have trained people inside and outside Iran, bringing in terrorists from abroad to attack a bazaar in the northern city of Rasht.

US President Donald Trump has repeatedly signaled his willingness to take action against Iran. In Israel, Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu stated that Israeli agents are operating on the ground in Iran, citing their experience during a previous operation in 2022. Former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo acknowledged the presence of Israeli agents in Iran on social media earlier this month.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has long claimed that Iran is a threat to Israel’s security, stating that Tehran is developing nuclear weapons and backing Israel’s opponents across the region. Israel has a history of conducting covert operations in Iran, targeting its nuclear and missile programs, as well as assassinating high-profile targets such as Hamas’ political leader Ismail Haniyeh.

Analysts believe that Israeli intelligence is active in Iran, with some speculating that agents are reporting back on the situation from the streets. The Iranian government has accused foreign countries of destabilizing protests, while tensions between Iran and its neighbors continue to escalate.

Source: Al Jazeera