Israel Hayom has revealed new details about a secret Mossad influence unit created under Mossad chief David Barnea to weaken the Iranian regime from within.
According to the report, the unit was established in 2021 as part of a major internal reform, and its mission is not only to collect intelligence or carry out traditional operations — but to influence public opinion, expose regime hypocrisy, undermine fear, and push senior Iranian officials out of power.
One example cited was the fall of senior Iranian official Rostam Qasemi, after an embarrassing photo of him with a woman without a hijab was leaked during the height of the Mahsa Amini protests. The report says the Mossad was behind the leak, using it to damage both Qasemi and the regime’s image.
The article describes a major shift inside the Mossad: instead of only removing threats through targeted operations, Israel is now using exposure, media pressure, social networks and psychological influence to weaken Iran’s ruling system.