A commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard arrested for alleged espionage for Israel, according to ‘NYT’

June 29. (EUROPA PRESS) –

Iranian authorities have arrested a prominent commander of the Revolutionary Guards accused of spying for Israel, the US newspaper ‘The New York Times’ reported on Wednesday, citing sources with knowledge of the matter.

These sources have confirmed the detention of Ali Nasiri on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to speak to the press, nearly two months after several dozen workers in a Defense Ministry missile development program were arrested by allegedly leaking classified information to Israel.

The news about Nasiri’s arrest also comes days after the dismissal of the head of the Intelligence Services of the Revolutionary Guard, Hosein Taeb, who had held the position for the last twelve years, without the reasons for the decision being revealed for now. .

Taeb’s departure from the post followed the death of several members of the Revolutionary Guards in various incidents, including the assassination in May of Colonel Hassan Sayad Jodaei in the capital, Tehran, an event that was blamed on Israel. Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi also promised “revenge” against the Israeli authorities.

Likewise, it took place in the midst of a diplomatic crisis with Turkey following Israel’s denunciations of the existence of Tehran’s plans to attack Israeli citizens in Turkish territory, something denied by Iran. However, Turkish forces recently arrested a dozen suspected members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards and Intelligence services.

Over the last year, the Government of Israel has increased the frequency of its attacks inside Iran, also against nuclear and military installations, which Keren Hajioff, adviser to the Israeli Prime Minister, Naftali Bennett, links to an “octopus” doctrine of the authorities.

“This doctrine represents a strategic shift from the past, when Israel focused on Iran’s tentacles in the region, in Lebanon, in Syria and in the Gaza Strip,” he explained. Thus, she has pointed to “a paradigm shift” to “go directly for the head”.

The Iranian authorities announced in early June the opening of an investigation into the death of a commander of the Revolutionary Guard in the city of Karaj, although they ruled out that it was a murder. Thus, they indicated that Commander Ali Esmailzadé died a few days ago in an “accident” in his house.

Days later, Tehran confirmed the death of two members of the Revolutionary Guard Aerospace Force “in the course of their duty”, without the authorities giving further details. However, Iranian media have pointed to the possible involvement of Israel in these events.

The Government of Iran has also accused Israel of being behind the murder of several nuclear scientists, including the death in November 2020 in an armed attack of Mohsen Fajrizadé, considered to be the director of the country’s nuclear program.