Mossad encourages Iranians to revolt in social media message

As protests widened, Iran’s central bank leadership was thrown into uncertainty.

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

The Mossad publicly urged Iranians to take to the streets against their government on Monday, issuing an unusually direct call for protest as economic unrest intensified across the Islamic Republic.

Using a Persian-language post on X, Mossad addressed Iranian citizens as demonstrations spread through major cities. “Go out together into the streets. The time has come,” the message read. It added: “We are with you. Not only from a distance and verbally. We are with you in the field.”

The statement marked a rare public acknowledgment by the Mossad touching on activity inside Iran, coming amid a second consecutive day of large-scale protests fueled by economic pressure and a rapidly weakening currency.

In Tehran, demonstrators gathered in central areas and market districts as frustration mounted over rising prices and declining purchasing power. Reports described confrontations between protesters and security forces, with riot police deploying tear gas and stun grenades in efforts to disperse crowds.

The unrest followed a dramatic fall in the value of the Iranian rial, which on Sunday slid to a record low of roughly 1,445,000 rials to the US dollar. That figure represents a steep drop from about 862,000 rials a year earlier, intensifying public anger over inflation and economic mismanagement.

As protests widened, Iran’s central bank leadership was thrown into uncertainty. Central Bank Governor Mohammad Reza Farzin announced his resignation amid the turmoil, according to reports. Under Iranian law, the move requires approval from President Masoud Pezeshkian before it can take effect.

Although the Mossad doesn’t often publicly comment on its activities, following the 12-day war between Israel and Iran, intelligence chief David Barnea declared that the Islamic Republic “will [continue to] be there, like we have been there.”