Iran arrests ‘Israeli spies’ in joint operation with Afghanistan

TEHRAN: Three individuals believed to be Israeli spies, have been apprehended by Iran through a collaborative operation with Afghanistan’s Taliban administration, Iranian state television disclosed on Sunday.

According to the broadcaster, these “three Mossad agents with Iranian nationality” were captured in a remote, mountainous region situated between Iran and Afghanistan.

The news of these arrests comes a day after the visit of a Taliban delegation to Tehran, where they engaged in discussions with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and other high-ranking officials.

Iranian media also revealed that these individuals were allegedly planning “kamikaze drone attacks originating from the Afghan border, targeting locations within Iran.” Alluding to the fact that they are operating from Afghanistan, it was further reported that they would be relocated to Iran for questioning.

Tensions between Iran and Israel have been longstanding, with Tehran consistently accusing Israel of orchestrating a series of sabotage attacks and assassinations aimed at crippling its nuclear program. It’s important to note that the Islamic Republic does not recognise the state of Israel and both nations have been locked in an ongoing clandestine struggle for years.

Earlier in August, several Israelis were arrested by Iranian security for allegedly plotting a sabotage of Iranian ballistic missile production. Tehran has also accused Israel of being behind a drone attack in January, which targeted a defense ministry facility located in the central province of Isfahan.