Iranian Authorities Crack Down on Mossad-Linked Cells Amid Deadly Riots and Police Attacks

Tehran, Iran:  Iranian security and judicial authorities have intensified operations against foreign-linked operatives and armed terror cells following a wave of violent riots that has claimed the lives of multiple police officers across the country. The unrest, fueled by economic grievances and foreign-backed interference, has prompted a sweeping crackdown on both physical and digital threats.

In Borujerd, western Iran, authorities dismantled a four-member armed cell preparing a false-flag operation designed to blame the state for civilian casualties. Law enforcement seized firearms, ammunition, and equipment for improvised explosive devices (IEDs). Several ringleaders were arrested for orchestrating attacks on religious sites and public property.

Meanwhile, in Qazvin, four individuals were apprehended for plotting sophisticated strikes on military and government installations. Tehran security officials also arrested a Mossad operative, who allegedly coordinated rioters while receiving tactical instructions via social media platforms such as Instagram and Telegram from handlers based in Germany. The suspect reportedly recruited young people to participate in street violence and documented unrest for use by foreign propaganda outlets.

Authorities have also cracked down on coordinated digital disinformation campaigns. In Tehran, 40 individuals were arrested for using artificial intelligence tools to fabricate and circulate misleading images and videos of unrest, creating the illusion of widespread chaos. The authorities removed the content in coordination with judicial bodies.

At least four police officers were killed in separate attacks on Wednesday and Thursday.

In Malard, west of Tehran, Officer Shahin Dehghan was fatally stabbed while attempting to restore order during a riot.

In Sistan and Baluchestan, Officer Mahmoud Haghighat was assassinated by gunmen linked to the Jaish al-Adl terrorist group.

In Lordegan, rioters armed with military-grade hunting rifles opened fire on police, killing Staff Sergeants Hadi Azaraz and Moslem Mahdavi-Nasab and injuring 30 others. Their funerals were held on Thursday in Shahr-e Kord.

Separatist Kurdish factions from northern Iraq have reportedly shifted from logistical support to active field operations in Iran’s western provinces, including Ilam and Kermanshah, according to Tasnim News Agency.

In the northeastern Khorasan Razavi province, five people were killed when attackers assaulted a police station in Chenaran. Deputy Governor Amirollah Shamaghdari confirmed widespread unrest in Mashhad, Chenaran, and Neyshabur, including bus arson, roadblocks, and the temporary removal of Iran’s national flag from a public square.

Iranian officials have accused American and Israeli figures of encouraging the riots. Former U.S. President Donald Trump publicly supported the protests, warning that Washington might intervene if protesters were harmed. Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo suggested Mossad involvement and referenced separatist plots targeting Sistan and Baluchestan.

The latest escalation follows a U.S.-Israeli assault earlier this year, which Iran described as a 12-day campaign of state terrorism that killed over a thousand civilians and targeted civilian, military, and nuclear infrastructure. Iranian authorities point to longstanding U.S. sanctions as the root cause of the economic grievances cited by protesters.

Tehran’s prosecutor has warned individuals and businesses against supporting calls for riots. Judicial authorities are monitoring social media activity and have filed cases against several retail brands, shops, and social media influencers linked to inciting disorder. Officials emphasize that peaceful economic protests remain legitimate, while foreign-instigated violence and attacks on security forces will be prosecuted.

Iranian authorities continue to pursue both domestic and foreign actors, vowing to restore stability and hold perpetrators accountable for coordinated attacks against law enforcement and the state.