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Following Israel's large-scale strikes on Iran targeting nuclear facilities and senior commanders, past remarks by former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Mossad's infiltration of Iranian intelligence have resurfaced.
Ahmadinejad revealed in 2024 that a comprehensive intelligence unit created to counter Israel was compromised by Mossad, stating, "We established a unit to counter Israel, and the person leading it turned out to be a Mossad agent."
In an October 2024 interview with CNN Turk following the rejection of his candidacy for Iran's June 2024 presidential elections, Ahmadinejad revealed that Iran established a special unit to counter Mossad activities within the country.
However, he claimed that the unit's leader was a Mossad agent, overseeing 20 other agents. He asserted that these agents were responsible for stealing Iranian nuclear documents in 2018 and for the targeted killings of Iranian nuclear scientists. He further claimed that the head of Iran's division aimed at thwarting Mossad operations was identified in 2021 as an Israeli spy.
"Israel organized complex operations inside Iran. They could easily obtain information. In Iran, they are still silent about this," he stated.
In a major military operation, waves of Israeli airstrikes early Friday struck important Iranian nuclear and military targets, leading to the deaths of several high-ranking officials.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced early Friday that Israel launched "Operation Rising Lion," a military campaign targeting Iran's nuclear program that he said would continue "for as many days as it takes to remove this threat."
"We struck at the heart of Iran's nuclear weaponization program," Netanyahu said in a televised address, claiming Iran "could produce a nuclear weapon" if not stopped.
Iranian state media reported that Israeli strikes killed top military officials, including Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Commander Gen. Hossein Salami and armed forces chief Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi.
The strikes also reportedly killed Gen. Gholam-Ali Rashid and two nuclear scientists, Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi and Fereydoon Abbasi-Davani. These scientists were central figures in Iran's nuclear development efforts.
State television reported that at least 50 people wounded, including 35 women and children, were transferred to Chamran Hospital in Tehran.
Bagheri, as one of the most senior military officials in Iran, played a critical role in the country’s military structure, making his death especially significant. Salami’s death is also crucial due to his control over Iran’s military and ballistic missile capabilities.
It remains unclear which country's airspace Israel used or whether American aircraft carriers were involved in the operation. Jordan has denied allowing the use of its airspace, according to officials.
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