- Iran Launches Nationwide Crackdown on Alleged Mossad Network
- Naval Mines and Global Oil at Risk as Iran Fortifies Maritime Chokepoint
- US Deploys Carrier Strike Group to Deter Iranian Escalation
Tehran, Iran: In anticipation of a possible escalation with Israel, Iran has boosted the operations of its military and intelligence arms to prevent further confrontations between the two countries, following violent raids that led to a fragile ceasefire signed on June 24, 2025. The Islamic Republic is not gambling, as it has fired off a nationwide purge of suspected Israeli Mossad spies in the country as well as increasing its naval tactics in the nascent Strait of Hormuz, which is an important route for global oil.
In their quest to counter the Israeli secret intelligence machinery, Iranian security forces have launched a nationwide manhunt against suspected Mossad agents. On the same day, police raided the most important cities, including Tehran, and arrested dozens of people. The operation is said to target the destruction of an alleged, very entrenched system of espionage that is said to be behind the secret attacks, such as the infiltration of weapons and drones involved in the recent Israeli attacks on Iranian nuclear and military installations.
At the same time, Iran is further strengthening its naval forces, and the US is confident that Iran has deployed its naval commandos with sea mines to the mouth of the Strait of Hormuz. This is a 34 kilo meter-long stretch of water, which is used to move almost 30 per cent of the oil used in this world between the Persian Gulf and the Arabian Sea. By securing this artery, Iran could potentially impact global energy markets and exert pressure on both the United States and its allies through the placement of mines. Such analysts have proposed that the Iranian plan was to prevent any further attack by Israel or the US by couching it in economic repatriation.
In response, the US promptly sent its aircraft carrier, USS Carl Vinson, which arrived in the Arabian Sea and was accompanied by two destroyers sailing near Iranian waters. Satellite images confirm the carrier’s proximity, highlighting the US’s insistence on keeping the Strait open. American authorities are warning that Iran’s mine-laying strategy is likely to convert the Strait into a deathtrap where passage becomes unsafe for both commercial ships and even military vessels. This situation would likely cause oil prices to soar, potentially leading to an economic crisis worldwide.
The behaviour of Iran seems to be fuelled by its efforts to combat the advanced intelligence activities of Israel, which has time and again outsmarted Tehran. In June 2025, during an operation called “Operation Rising Lion”, Israeli attacks eliminated much of the Iranian military leadership, destroyed significant nuclear infrastructure, and exposed weaknesses in Iran’s air defence. Yet, the secret methods used by the Mossad, such as the employment of the ready-to-use drones and the delivery of precision weapons to Iran, unexpectedly surprised Tehran. Iran is now taking its revenge by ferreting out the alleged accomplices as well as strengthening its coastal waters to avoid such intrusions, especially through its ports, which are suspected as entry points of the Mossad.
A sharp twist to the shadow war was the recent social media posting by an account affiliated with Israeli intelligence agencies that they apparently knew the identity of the secret war commander of Iran along with the location of Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters; the result being the report is yet to be verified. Iran, the mother country, is cautious about further revelations and has been closely guarding its military strategy, even withholding the names of its top commanders.
The US is flexibly keeping track of the movement of Iran, and intelligence agencies have said that any aggression against Iran may lure Tehran into a move to mine the strait, which will have far-reaching effects. Currently, the planning on the part of Iran reflects a two-pronged approach in that the country tries to cripple the intelligence service in Israel itself at the same time as it puts the world economy to ransom at sea. With tensions boiling stunningly, the globe awaits nervously because at any point it is possible that a misstep will trigger a deadly war in the Middle East.