Underground War: Inside Iran's Secret Ministry of Intelligence

2026-03-03 20:52:34Kosova&Bota SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX

Underground War: Inside Iran's Secret Ministry of Intelligence

Following recent Israeli attacks targeting facilities linked to Iran's Ministry of Intelligence, the focus has shifted to the institution that for decades has been a pillar of domestic repression in Iran and covert operations abroad.

According to the Israeli military, the initial wave of strikes killed two senior ministry officials, followed by additional targets, including the main compound. The actions were presented as part of a broader campaign against Iran's drone network, ballistic missile infrastructure, and key regime institutions.

Established in 1983, the ministry is one of the main intelligence agencies of the Islamic Republic and operates in parallel with the intelligence structure of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). It reports directly to Ali Khamenei and is responsible for information collection, counterintelligence, and internal security.

Israeli security officials claim that the ministry oversees surveillance of political opponents, religious minorities and ethnic groups across the country, with representatives in every province to monitor the population and curb dissent.

Outside Iranian borders, Israeli authorities accuse the ministry of a role in planning and supporting attacks against Israeli and Jewish targets, as well as of close coordination with Hezbollah and the IRGC's Quds Force in regional operations. According to these assessments, ministry operatives have occasionally operated under diplomatic cover in embassies and consulates, engaging in intelligence-gathering and operational activities.

In November 2022, authorities in Tanzania arrested an Iranian intelligence officer in collaboration with Mossad, according to Israeli sources. He was allegedly tasked with establishing an informal network in Africa to recruit agents and plan attacks and kidnappings against Israelis, Americans, Saudis and Azerbaijanis. The case, according to Israel, provided insight into the structure and methods of the ministry abroad.

Israeli intelligence services have also assessed that the ministry was behind the hacking of the phone of former army chief Benny Gantz in 2019.

In Latin America, several Israeli investigations have linked ministry personnel stationed in Argentina to support for the Hezbollah cell responsible for the 1992 bombing of the Israeli Embassy in Buenos Aires and the 1994 bombing of the AMIA Jewish center. Argentine authorities later issued arrest warrants for former Iranian Intelligence Minister Ali Fallahian and other Iranian officials in connection with these attacks, Ynet reported.

With its headquarters and top leaders hit, the ministry – which has traditionally operated away from the public eye – has moved into the center of the expanded Israeli campaign against Iran's security and intelligence apparatus.


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