JERUSALEM — Mexican authorities, with assistance from U.S. and Israeli intelligence agencies, have contained an alleged Iranian plot to assassinate Israel’s ambassador to Mexico, Einat Kranz Neiger, U.S. and Israeli officials said.
U.S. officials said the plot was initiated late in 2024 and remained active into mid-2025 before it was disrupted. The operation was attributed to elements linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. One U.S. official identified an Iranian Revolutionary Guard officer, Hasan Izadi, as a key figure in the alleged operation. Officials described the threat as contained and not posing an ongoing risk.
Israeli officials publicly thanked Mexican authorities for their role in halting the plot. Israel’s Foreign Ministry conveyed gratitude for the cooperation that led to the disruption and stressed the importance of sustained international intelligence collaboration to protect Israeli diplomats abroad.
Mexican security and foreign ministries issued conflicting public responses. Mexican officials told some outlets they were not aware of the details of the plot as described by U.S. and Israeli sources. Mexican authorities emphasized that they work closely with international partners on security matters while also noting ongoing investigations into any foreign threats on Mexican soil.
Tehran uniformly denied the allegations. Iranian officials dismissed the reporting as false and described the claims as part of a political campaign to discredit Iran. Iran’s mission to the United Nations declined to comment through diplomatic channels, cited in media coverage.
U.S. and allied counterintelligence agencies have in recent years revealed multiple plots and foiled attempts said to be linked to Iranian operatives. Western officials point to a pattern of Iranian targeting of dissidents, journalists, and diplomats in several countries. The alleged plan against the ambassador to Mexico fits into that broader security concern, officials said.
Details about how the plot was uncovered and the specific tactics planned were not disclosed by U.S., Israeli, or Mexican officials. Intelligence sources cited by news agencies said that cooperative work between the three countries led to the disruption. Investigators are reported to have pursued leads over several months before neutralizing the threat.
For the Jewish community and supporters of Israel, the allegation underscores persistent risks to Israeli diplomatic and Jewish targets overseas. The public nature of the accusations has prompted calls from Jewish and Zionist organizations for heightened protection of diplomatic personnel and community institutions. Security analysts and pro-Israel groups say the case highlights the need for robust international policing of state-sponsored threats.
Legal and diplomatic consequences remain uncertain. If further evidence corroborates the U.S. and Israeli assessments, governments may weigh measures ranging from diplomatic protests to targeted sanctions against individuals or entities implicated in the plot. Mexico’s measured public posture reflects the sensitivities of asserting responsibility for international plots that involve covert channels and overlapping jurisdictions.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry said it will continue to work with partners to protect Israeli diplomats and citizens abroad. The ministry reiterated that threats to Israeli envoys are treated with the utmost seriousness and that cooperation with host countries is central to their safety.
The incident is likely to deepen concerns within the global Jewish and Zionist community about the reach of actors willing to target Jewish officials and symbols. It also serves as a reminder of the value of allied intelligence sharing and the diplomatic weight of swift, coordinated responses to transnational threats.
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This article is based on verified information from Reuters, the Associated Press, the Times of Israel, The Guardian, and The Jerusalem Post.