In a swirl of intrigue and diplomatic drama, officials from the United States and Israel announced this week that a plot to assassinate Israel’s ambassador to Mexico, Einat Kranz Neiger, was disrupted by a coordinated effort between Mexican, American, and Israeli intelligence agencies. The alleged scheme, which authorities say was orchestrated by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Quds Force, was reportedly active from late 2024 until its neutralization in mid-2025. Yet, what might have been a straightforward story of international cooperation has instead become a tangled web of competing narratives, denials, and geopolitical posturing.
According to reporting from the Associated Press and other major outlets, U.S. and Israeli officials credited Mexican authorities with playing a crucial role in uncovering and dismantling the plot. The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the intelligence, asserted that the conspiracy was first hatched near the end of 2024 and remained a live threat until the middle of 2025. As one U.S. official told Reuters, the Quds Force—a powerful unit within Iran’s elite military—was behind the operation, which was ultimately "contained" and poses no ongoing danger as of November 2025.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry was quick to issue a statement, expressing gratitude to Mexican law enforcement. "We thank the security and law enforcement services in Mexico for thwarting a terrorist network directed by Iran that sought to attack Israel’s ambassador in Mexico," the ministry said. Oren Marmorstein, the ministry’s spokesperson, emphasized, "The Israeli intelligence and security community will continue to work tirelessly, in full cooperation with security and intelligence agencies around the world, to thwart terror threats from Iran and its proxies against Israeli and Jewish targets worldwide." Ambassador Kranz Neiger, who has represented Israel in Mexico since August 2023, also voiced her appreciation for the swift action by local officials, noting that diplomats "stand on the front lines representing Israel in a challenging climate."
The U.S. State Department echoed these concerns, framing the alleged plot as part of a broader pattern of Iranian aggression. "Iran’s international abhorrent plots, aimed at its own citizens, Americans, and citizens of other nations are inconsistent with the behavior of a civilized state," the department declared. "The United States is working with likeminded governments to share best practices and threat information, raise awareness about the issue of Iran’s lethal plots, work together to counter these threats, and hold perpetrators accountable."
But the story didn’t end there. Iran, for its part, forcefully rejected the allegations. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Iran’s embassy in Mexico described the claims as "a great big lie" and "a media invention, whose objective is to damage the friendly and historic relations between both countries (Mexico and Iran), which we categorically reject." Iran’s mission to the United Nations took a more reserved approach, offering no comment on the matter. The embassy’s denial was categorical, insisting that "the security and reputation of Mexico are also the security and reputation of Iran."
Adding yet another twist, the Mexican government itself issued a statement late Friday denying any knowledge of the alleged plot. In a brief joint announcement, Mexico’s foreign relations and security ministries said they "have no report with respect to a supposed attempt against the ambassador of Israel in Mexico." The ministries reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining open communication with diplomatic missions and collaborating with security agencies within the bounds of national sovereignty. This denial appeared to directly contradict Israel’s public thanks to Mexican authorities for their role in thwarting the attack, leaving observers puzzled and fueling speculation about the true sequence of events.
Despite the lack of official details on how the plot was disrupted, intelligence sources pointed to a specific figure at the center of the conspiracy. According to documents cited by the Associated Press and other outlets, an officer in the IRGC named Hasan Izadi—also known as Masood Rahnema—allegedly initiated the assassination plan while serving as an aide to Iran’s ambassador in Venezuela. U.S. intelligence linked the operation to the Quds Force’s Unit 11000, which has been implicated in previous foiled plots against Israeli and Jewish targets in Australia and Europe. Izadi reportedly returned to Tehran after his stint in Venezuela, further complicating efforts to hold anyone accountable.
This latest episode fits into a broader pattern of accusations and counter-accusations between Iran and its adversaries. As reported by Kurdistan24 and other outlets, the United States and its allies have long accused Iran and its proxies of plotting attacks and espionage in Western countries. Notably, Australia expelled Iran’s ambassador in August 2025 after authorities uncovered Tehran’s involvement in antisemitic attacks, and the United Kingdom has foiled over 20 Iran-linked plots since 2022, according to British intelligence officials. Germany, too, arrested a man in July 2025 suspected of spying on Jewish sites in Berlin for Iranian intelligence.
The regional context is equally fraught. Iran and Israel are bitter adversaries, locked in a decades-long proxy conflict. Earlier this year, a 12-day flare-up between the two nations ended with a ceasefire on June 25. Iran has a history of supporting militant groups such as Hamas, Islamic Jihad, Hezbollah, and Yemen’s Houthi rebels—all of which have engaged in conflict with Israel. The U.S. and Israel have repeatedly warned that Tehran’s reach extends far beyond its borders, targeting not only Israelis but also Americans and Jews worldwide.
Expert analysts have weighed in on the significance of the alleged plot. As Janatan Sayeh, a research analyst, put it, "This foiled plot on America’s doorstep was not only aimed at Israel, it was also a warning to Washington. Tehran’s terror network is extending its reach across the West, devoting growing attention to the Americas." Connor Pfeiffer, Senior Director of Government Relations at FDD Action, added, "This plot is a timely reminder that the Islamic Republic has extensive networks and intelligence operations in America’s own backyard. In Venezuela, the Maduro regime provides a haven for the IRGC and Hezbollah that threatens the United States and its partners by extending the reach of Tehran’s intelligence and repression apparatus."
Yet, for all the official statements, intelligence leaks, and expert opinions, the public is left with a fractured narrative. On one side, there are serious accusations of state-sponsored terrorism from two global powers. On the other, a categorical denial from Iran and a statement of unawareness from Mexico—the very country where the events were said to have unfolded. The lack of concrete details and the conflicting government statements have left the international community to decipher a complex web of claims, counter-claims, and official denials.
One thing is clear: the shadow war between Iran and its adversaries continues to play out on the global stage, with diplomatic relations and regional security hanging in the balance. As fresh details emerge, the world will be watching closely to see how this latest chapter in a long-running saga of espionage and intrigue unfolds.
