Foiling of Attack Plan on MEK Conference 'Based on Mossad Information'

Israeli media reported that the information from the country's intelligence agency, Mossad, led to the foiling of a 'terrorist plot' in Europe last month. The foiling of 'this plot' was accompanied by the arrest of several Iranians, including a diplomat. According to a report initially published in the Hebrew-language newspaper 'Hadashot' and allowed to be published by other Israeli media on Thursday, July 19, the arrest of members of a group intending to bomb the MEK conference in Paris occurred after Mossad provided sensitive information to officials in France, Germany, and Belgium. The 'National Council of Resistance' conference was held on July 9 in the suburbs of Paris, and according to the MEK, over 25,000 people participated. Ahead of this conference, Belgian officials announced the arrest of two Iranian-origin citizens, identified as 'Amir S.' and 'Nasimeh N.' According to Belgian officials, this couple, who had concealed approximately half a kilogram of very powerful explosives in their vehicle, were arrested in Brussels. Shortly thereafter, German officials also reported the arrest of an Iranian diplomat. 'Asadollah A.', a diplomat at the Islamic Republic's embassy in Austria, was arrested in Bavaria, Germany, and is accused of commissioning the bombing at the MEK conference to the Iranian-Belgian couple. The MEK's news agency identified the full name of the accused as 'Asadollah Asadi.' Iranian officials have denied involvement in the plot to attack the MEK conference in Paris, calling the case a 'scenario' to undermine Iran's relations with Europe, and summoned the ambassadors of Germany, Belgium, and France in Tehran to the Foreign Ministry in protest against the arrest of the Iranian diplomat. Israeli media, which reported on Thursday about Mossad's role in discovering and foiling this plot, also referenced statements made last month by Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel. Netanyahu, in his speech on the occasion of July 4, the anniversary of American independence, stated that during these days when Iranians are arranging meetings with European officials to save the JCPOA and the Iranian president is heading to Europe, 'this regime was planning a major terrorist attack in France with a nuclear terrorist envoy, and the operation commander was an Iranian diplomat in Austria.' According to Israeli media reports, the Mossad intelligence agency became aware of their plans by monitoring and eavesdropping on members of this group in several European countries. The European Union had listed the MEK as a 'terrorist group' until 2008, and the United States until 2012. The 'National Council of Resistance,' of which the MEK is the largest organization, is currently considered one of the main opposition groups to the Islamic Republic.