Iran, "Arrest of Israeli Mossad Agent, Seizure of Firearms and Explosives"

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] The Iranian government announced that it has apprehended a Mossad intelligence team belonging to Israel's foreign intelligence agency in the western border area adjacent to Iraq. The Iranian government emphasized that Mossad agents were preparing large-scale unrest across Iran and confiscated firearms and explosives.

According to foreign media including the AP News on the 27th (local time), the Iranian intelligence agency announced that it arrested Mossad intelligence agents who infiltrated the western Iraq border area and seized a large quantity of firearms and explosives. Iranian authorities emphasized that they confiscated pistols, grenades, Winchester rifles, AK-47 rifles, and ammunition from them.

The Iranian intelligence agency claimed, "The arrested agents infiltrated with plans to incite urban riots and destroy key facilities." The agency stated that the western border area where they infiltrated is Khuzestan Province, where anti-government protests have been occurring recently due to a severe water shortage crisis. According to AFP News, since the 15th, protests over water shortages and frequent power outages have taken place in Khuzestan Province, resulting in at least four civilian deaths. However, the Iranian intelligence agency has not disclosed the number or nationality of the arrested Mossad agents.

Previously, Iranian authorities had pointed to Mossad as being behind the assassination of Iranian nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh and attacks on the Natanz nuclear facility. The Israeli government had also hinted at the possibility of attacks on Iran's major nuclear facilities to prevent the conclusion of the Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA - Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action), so the possibility of Mossad attacks has been continuously raised.

Regarding the claim of the Mossad agents' arrest, the Israeli government has not yet made an official statement, while the US-led negotiations to restore the Iran nuclear deal are expected to face significant difficulties. The Iran nuclear deal negotiations were temporarily suspended on the 20th of last month, and the US is seeking ways to resume talks by contacting key Middle Eastern allies such as Turkey, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Jordan, but it remains unclear when the negotiations will resume.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.