Iran claims to thwart Mossad ring seeking to disrupt its defense industry
Iranian media says agents for Israeli spy agency developed contacts with Islamic Republic’s arms firms; unclear how many have been arrested
Iran claimed on Monday that it had busted a Mossad-led spy network in the country that sought to gain access and sabotage its defense industry, according to media reports.
Iran’s state-owned Press TV reported that intelligence services uncovered a Mossad operation that employed a data broker, Frank Genin, to act as the head of a spare parts manufacturing company, and then forge connections with Iranian firms and individuals tied to the defense industry.
According to the report, Genin invited his contacts to Malaysia to meet Hadrien Lavaux, supposedly a Mossad agent, and managing director of Triple A, an aerospace materials company based in Singapore.
The report claimed that Lavaux’s role in the company was a cover. Genin is listed as the company chairman on the Triple A website.
Triple A then reportedly forged relations with Iranian firms that sell carbon fibers, resin, and other metal alloys, while Lavaux’s partners attended events inside Iran, and took note of the demands of the Islamic Republic’s defense industry.
The network then began inviting figures in Iranian defense companies to faux conferences around the world.
Iranian intelligence managed to identify the network, follow its activities and thwart its plans, according to the report.
The report did not specify how many people were arrested.
Iran makes claims of busting Mossad spy rings from time to time. The veracity of such claims is unclear.
Tehran and Jerusalem have long accused each other of spying. Israel views Iran as its greatest threat and has repeatedly threatened to take military action to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. Iran denies seeking such weapons and has vowed a harsh response to any Israeli aggression.
In January, Israel said it had broken up an Iranian spy ring that recruited Israeli women via social media to photograph sensitive sites, gather intelligence and encourage their sons to join Israeli military intelligence.
Earlier this month, Iran executed four people accused of working for the Mossad, while three others received lengthy prison sentences.