Mossad says it foiled Iranian plot to infiltrate Israel, attack senior officials

The Mossad, in collaboration with foreign intelligence services, announced on Thursday that it thwarted an Iranian plot to infiltrate Israel and attack senior Israeli officials. The Iranian Intelligence Ministry allegedly used criminal organizations to recruit individuals to gather intelligence and carry out attacks. Two Iranian criminals, Baba Mahuzadeh Haji Jafan ("Babak") and Mehmet Nadim Ya’it ("Nadim"), recruited Turut Ozkor ("Philip") from France. Philip, who traveled to Iran for meetings and payments, was tasked with forming a cell of foreign nationals to enter Israel. Philip has since been expelled from France, while Babak and Nadim remain in Iran. The Mossad stated, "Despite the attempt to avoid an Iranian fingerprint, the proxy method repeatedly demonstrates the carelessness of the operatives on the ground, leading to the exposure of their handlers in Iran." This foiled plot is one of several Iranian attempts to direct terror attacks in Israel that have been uncovered in the past two years.