The intelligence service of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has warned Iranian citizens of an increase in recruitment attempts by enemy intelligence agencies, state media reported on Tuesday.
Entangled in a decades-long shadow war with Israel, which was able to assassinate numerous military commanders and nuclear scientists in its 12-day air war on Iran last month, Iran is ever more concerned about infiltration by the Mossad spy agency.
How the Mossad can recruit Iranian spies so easily
The Mossad has an ‘extensive network’ of spies operating in Iran, former Israeli intelligence officer Oded Ailam told German newspaper Bild in an interview.
Ailam, 71, served with the Mossad for 24 years and explained how the agency was able to recruit so many spies in a hostile country, even as Iran’s mullahs continue to call on the population to hunt the defectors down.
"There are many dissatisfied people in Iran. Large parts of society are impoverished. While Iran sits on huge gas reserves, instead of investing this money in their own country, the mullahs have poured billions into terror organizations like Hezbollah," Ailam said.
"There is also the fact that Iran is a large country with borders that can't always be monitored, making it possible to smuggle 'anything' into the country."
The Mossad also promises protection for its spies in Iran and will bring them and their families to safety if necessary.
"When someone works for us, we take care not only of them but also of their family," he explained.