TEHRAN -- Iran’s intelligence ministry says it has dismantled four operative teams affiliated with the Israeli spy agency Mossad which were planning to carry out terrorist attacks in some parts of the country.
In a Thursday statement, the ministry said all members of the teams have been arrested.
It added that the criminal Zionist regime has sought to take advantage of the recent riots in Iran and lead operative teams to conduct “hybrid” terrorist operations in the country but all the terrorists have been arrested before any act.
The ministry noted that it has also obtained information about a Mossad ringleader in one European country, saying more details will be given immediately after the completion of investigation.
The intelligence ministry announced last week that it has identified and arrested members of a spy network who were planning to sabotage the country’s defense industry through front companies and security marketing.
Iran’s army chief played down Israel’s military threats, saying the regime is unable to take an Iranian response to any hostile act that it may carry out given the political tensions it faces inside the occupied territories and its sense of insecurity in the broader region.
Addressing a meeting with senior army commanders, Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi said Iran is closely and constantly monitoring all the enemy’s moves, and that the Armed Forces are fully ready to counter any threat at the earliest.
“We will give a crushing response to any place from which an attack might originate against the security of the Islamic Republic and its interests or help is provided to the Zionist regime,” he added.
He said Zionist officials have resorted to saber-rattling following the intensification of political divisions and the emergence of an internal legitimacy crisis, on the one hand, and the feeling of insecurity in the region, on the other.
“The Zionist regime is currently facing a political and security crisis and is under immense internal and external pressures. Corruption as well as financial and morality scandals gripping the regime’s officials in addition to insecurity caused [for Israel] by the rising power of Palestinian fighter groups have all put the Zionist regime in a critical situation,” Mousavi said.
The army commander added that the internal rift, fear and insecurity have prompted the Israeli rime to step up both violence against the Palestinians and saber-rattling against Iran while being fearful of the Islamic Republic.
The Zionist regime is hated more than ever by the public opinion in the world due to its widespread violations of international law, crimes against the Palestinian people and continuous evil acts in the region, he said.

present a false image and promote aggression, terrorism, and looting public property as top priorities,” he added.
The intelligence minister reiterated that the enemies fomented unrest and aided separatist groups, waging a psychological war against the Islamic Republic of Iran’s sacred system in order to bring about regime change.
“However, the might of the country’s security and armed forces, as well as the astute leadership by the Leader of Islamic revolution, once again caused the enemies to face a severe defeat,” he said.