Beneath the veneer of Iran’s authoritative regime lies a simmering crisis that threatens to undermine its very foundations. Recent revelations from key figures within the regime have exposed a harsh reality: Iran’s regime is grappling with a pervasive infiltration of its intelligence and security apparatus by foreign actors. Against the backdrop of unexplained explosions and covert operations, the regime’s internal weaknesses are becoming increasingly evident.
Morteza Mahmudvand, the representative of Khorramabad and a member of the National Security Commission in Iran’s regime’s parliament, recently voiced apprehension, saying, “We are facing a crisis of infiltration by spy services.” This statement came just two days after a loud explosion rocked Khorramabad, followed by conflicting statements from government officials regarding its origin.
In an interview with the Iran Dideban website, Mahmudvand indirectly referred to the explosion in Khorramabad on Monday evening. He emphasized that beyond the ongoing crises in the country, the persistent infiltration of security services by some internal and external opposition groups within the regime and various institutions is a pressing issue.
Mahmudovand underscored the vulnerability of the regime’s institutions due to the infiltration of foreign intelligence services, lamenting that certain government institutions and factions have become susceptible to such infiltration.
“We must exercise caution to ensure the security of our nation,” Mahmudvand urged, pointing out that without stable security, extremist Salafist and Takfiri movements, which advocate for harm to Shiites’ lives, property, and honor, pose a significant threat.
In addition to the infiltration crisis, Mahmudvand mentioned the challenges of ongoing protests and economic difficulties that the regime faces. He emphasized that the economic problems have caused significant harm to the country, suggesting a link between economic stability and social well-being.
Mahmudvand also expressed concern about the lack of expertise and experience among officials in Raisi’s government. He called for individuals with a track record of successfully managing administrative and livelihood matters to take charge and steer the country away from crises and economic problems.
It’s noteworthy that Mahmudovand’s remarks came shortly after a significant incident in Khorramabad, where people were forced to leave their homes due to a massive explosion that occurred the previous Monday.
The Tasnim news agency, affiliated with the IRGC, reported intense ground tremors and a deafening explosion sound in Khorramabad, causing panic among the population. Initially, it was thought to be an earthquake, but the Geophysics Center of Tehran University confirmed no seismic activity, prompting speculations of an explosion.
Subsequent statements from local officials contradicted each other, with some denying any explosion or earthquake. However, the head of the database at the Institute of Geophysics of Tehran University later confirmed a minor earthquake in the region, explaining that smaller quakes might not always register on the Richter scale but can still be felt when shallow.
Meanwhile, reports from Israeli sources raised the possibility of an attack on Iran’s military facilities, including the Imam Ali base. Some suggested that Mossad-operated drones targeted this site.
Amid the conflicting accounts regarding the Khorramabad incident and international media speculations about an attack on the Imam Ali missile base, Mahmudovand’s warning about the infiltration of foreign intelligence services within the regime has taken on greater significance. It underscores the regime’s attempt to conceal its growing internal weaknesses.
The issue of foreign intelligence services infiltrating high-level sectors of the regime has been a recurring concern, particularly after incidents like the Natanz nuclear facility explosion on July 2, 2022, the assassination of nuclear program director Mohsen Fakhrizadeh on November 27, 2022, and another explosion at the Natanz facility on April 10, 2021.
On April 14, 2021, former Commander-in-Chief of the Revolutionary Guards Mohsen Rezaei spoke about a “security contamination” and noted that the regime had not undertaken significant security improvements for many years, making it vulnerable to such incidents.
On June 11, 2021, former regime President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad accused a “corrupt security gang of the Islamic Republic” of involvement in the assassination of nuclear scientists and theft of Iran’s nuclear documents by Mossad. He claimed that the highest-ranking official responsible for countering Israeli spies in the Ministry of Intelligence was himself an Israeli spy.
On May 21, 2021, former Minister of Intelligence Ali Younesi affirmed Mossad’s influence and infiltration at the highest levels of the regime. He lamented that instead of countering infiltration, new parallel intelligence organizations were formed, weakening the Ministry of Intelligence and allowing foreign intelligence services to gain influence.
Younesi expressed concerns about the competition among these internal intelligence services, which had further opened the door for foreign intelligence services to exert their influence. He concluded that the regime had reason to be worried about any developments under these circumstances.
