January 1, 2026 | 08:15 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Israel’s intelligence agency, Mossad, has sent a rare public message in Persian to demonstrators in Iran as nationwide protests intensify.
The message, posted on Mossad’s Persian-language Twitter account on Monday, encouraged Iranian citizens to take to the streets, stating: “Go out together into the streets. The time has come.” It added, “We are with you. Not only from a distance and verbally. We are with you in the field.”
According to The Jerusalem Post, this represents an unusual open acknowledgment from Mossad regarding its activities in Iran. In June, the agency reportedly deployed hundreds of operatives during a 12-day conflict with Israel.
Following the conflict, Mossad Director David Barnea hinted at continued operations in Tehran, asserting that Israel would maintain its presence there.
The Twitter message comes as protests in Iran surge over economic hardship, fuel price hikes, a nationwide water crisis, and the collapse of the Iranian Rial.
Analysts suggest it is unclear whether Mossad genuinely believes the demonstrations could topple the regime, or if the statement forms part of a broader psychological operations campaign.
Protests, which began on November 28, have been largely driven by students and young people, including Iran’s Gen Z, demanding an end to economic mismanagement and the ruling regime itself.
Demonstrations have spread across major cities, including Tehran, Isfahan, Yazd, and Zanjan, with slogans such as “We do not want Gaza or Lebanon,” reflecting public frustration at government spending on armed groups abroad while domestic hardship intensifies.
University campuses, including the University of Tehran, Sharif University of Technology, and Isfahan University of Technology, have become focal points for student-led demonstrations.
Small business owners, affected by extreme price volatility and the sharp devaluation of the Rial, have also joined the protests, demanding transparent economic policies and government intervention in currency markets.
As the unrest grows, Mossad’s public message signals a rare show of external support for the demonstrators, highlighting the complex interplay of domestic dissent, regional geopolitics, and intelligence operations in one of the Middle East’s most volatile states.
Read: Is Iran on the Brink? Key Information About the Protests
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