In an unprecedented and direct public intervention, Israel's Mossad spy agency has called on the Iranian people to intensify their street protests, claiming the agency is supporting them "on the ground." This bold statement comes as demonstrations triggered by a severe economic crisis spread from Tehran to other Iranian cities.
Mossad's Direct Appeal and Spreading Unrest
On Wednesday, Israel's army radio reported that Mossad posted a message in Farsi on its official X account. The agency explicitly urged Iranians: "Go out into the streets together. The time has come. We are with you." It further asserted, "Not just from a distance or through words. We are also with you on the ground." This rare public declaration marks a significant escalation in psychological and information warfare between the two arch-foes.
The protests, which began on Sunday with shopkeepers in Tehran rallying against the country's worsening economic conditions, have now gained momentum. Students and other citizens in various cities have joined the demonstrations. The core grievance is the plummeting value of the Iranian rial against the US dollar and other global currencies. This crash has drastically increased import prices, crippling retail traders and deepening public frustration.
Backdrop of Escalating Conflict and Diplomacy
Mossad's provocative appeal followed high-level talks this week between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump. After their discussion, President Trump issued a fresh warning to Iran, threatening new strikes if Tehran attempts to rebuild its nuclear or ballistic missile programmes.
The relationship between Iran and Israel is at a historic low. The two nations fought a 12-day war earlier in 2024, which began with Israel launching a wave of strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities and residential areas. Israel stated its aim was to cripple the Islamic Republic's atomic research and ballistic missile capabilities. Iran retaliated with drone and missile attacks on Israel. The United States later joined Israel in briefly targeting Iranian nuclear sites before a ceasefire was declared.
A History of Shadow War and Regional Proxy Conflicts
Iran, which does not recognise Israel's right to exist, has long accused Mossad of conducting sabotage operations against its nuclear installations and assassinating its scientists. A major recent incident attributed to Israel was the assassination of former Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran in July 2024.
Furthermore, Iran's regional strategy, centred on its "axis of resistance," directly challenges Israel. Tehran provides backing to militant groups like Lebanon's Hezbollah and the Palestinian movement Hamas. Israel has fought major wars with both these groups in the past two years, making the broader conflict a multi-front engagement. Mossad's latest public statement is seen as an attempt to fuel internal pressure on the Iranian regime amidst this ongoing regional standoff.
The call for protests, combined with the explicit claim of on-ground involvement, signals a new and more audacious phase in the covert and overt struggle between Israel and Iran, with the Iranian street becoming a potential new battlefield.
