Ankara, January 10,2026: Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has accused Israel’s intelligence agency, Mossad, of exploiting ongoing protests in Iran to destabilise the Islamic Republic, saying Israeli involvement in the unrest is being carried out openly.
In an extended interview with Turkish television on Saturday, Fidan discussed developments in Iran amid rising regional tensions and repeatedly criticised Israel for what he described as deliberate efforts to weaken Tehran by capitalising on its internal challenges.
“The Mossad is not hiding this,” Fidan said. “They are calling on the Iranian people to rise up against the regime through their internet and Twitter accounts.”
The Turkish foreign minister said that while past overt military attacks against Iran had unified the Iranian public against external threats, the current situation was different. According to him, Israel views the absence of direct conflict as an opportunity to deepen domestic dissent within Iran, particularly by leveraging economic hardship and social discontent.
Fidan also claimed that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was seeking to provoke a broader regional conflict, but only with the approval of the United States. “Everyone knows Netanyahu has such a desire; it’s no secret,” he said, alleging that Netanyahu would not act without guarantees from key allies, especially Washington. He suggested that lobbying for a “green light” included Netanyahu’s visit to the White House in late December.
Turning to Iran’s internal situation, Fidan noted that the country has been under economic sanctions for nearly three decades, placing a heavy burden on its people. He described Iranian society as “dynamic and sophisticated,” particularly its younger generation, but said prolonged sanctions had created deep structural problems.
“These pressures are the real drivers behind recurring protests,” he said, referring to major demonstrations in 2019 and 2023. While describing the current unrest as more limited in scale, Fidan stressed that some protest activity was being manipulated from outside. “Alongside the authentic reasons for protest, there is clear external manipulation by Iran’s adversaries,” he added.
On diplomacy, Fidan said Turkey supports resolving tensions between Iran, the United States and other Western powers through negotiations and seeks to prevent harm to Iranian civilians. He warned that imposing preconditions designed to undermine talks would only further isolate Iran and provide justification for potential Israeli military action.
He argued that a negotiated agreement was essential for regional stability and would remove what he termed “international cover” for an Israeli strike on Iran.
In his closing remarks, Fidan said he was conveying a message from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Iran’s leadership, urging Tehran to open a new chapter in relations with neighbouring Arab states. He called on Iran to engage with them in a “genuine and sincere” manner, set aside past grievances and prioritise its responsibilities toward regional peace and stability.
Meanwhile, Israeli media have also highlighted Mossad-linked social media activity during the protests. In a recent column for Maariv, Israeli military analyst Alon Ben-David cited a Persian-language account claiming links to Mossad, which tweeted early in the unrest: “We are with you, the protesters, everywhere.”
The same account later claimed that “thousands of activists in the Basij militia and security forces have joined the protesters,” though the post was subsequently deleted.
Ben-David wrote that the unit within Mossad responsible for psychological operations and influence is headed by a senior official identified only as “A.”, now serving as deputy to Mossad director Roman Gofman. He criticised the tweets as reflecting poor judgment and argued that Israel should avoid overt digital involvement in unfolding protests.
“The Mossad would be better served by operating more discreetly and tweeting less,” Ben-David concluded.
