We begin with exclusive revelations that have come to light amid escalating tensions in the Middle East. According to an explosive report from The Washington Post, Israel waged a secret intimidation campaign against high-ranking Iranian officials—a covert psychological operation that ran parallel to its recent military strikes on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.
This campaign, reportedly launched within hours of the start of Operation Rising Lion, involved threatening phone calls, handwritten letters, and direct messages to some of Iran’s top military and political leaders. Israeli intelligence sources confirmed the campaign to The Washington Post, describing it as part of a “broad covert action strategy” designed to destabilize the Iranian regime from within.
In one chilling audio recording obtained by the Post, an Israeli operative is heard warning a senior Iranian general:
“You have 12 hours to flee with your wife and child… We’re closer to you than your own neck vein. Put this in your head. May God protect you.”
The report claims that this effort targeted approximately 20 Iranian officials, many of whom were told explicitly that they were on an active assassination list if they continued supporting Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
This psychological warfare followed on the heels of confirmed Israeli airstrikes that killed several key military leaders, including Major Generals Hossein Salami and Mohammad Bagheri—figures at the core of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard and national military apparatus. During one call, an Israeli official told a terrified recipient:
“I’m calling from a country that two hours ago sent Bagheri, Salami, Shamkhani… one by one, to hell.”
The goal, according to Israeli intelligence sources, was not just to eliminate senior leadership but to frighten and paralyze Iran’s second- and third-tier command structure—the individuals next in line to take power. These operatives are reportedly hesitating to step into leadership roles, fearing they too could be assassinated.
Efforts also extended to Hezbollah’s leadership, with Israeli sources reminding targets about the elimination of top Hezbollah commanders, suggesting a message of personal vulnerability across the entire Iran-led regional alliance.
According to the report, some Iranian officials were contacted directly, while others received anonymous threats via letters or through spouses and family members. “They fully understand that they are transparent and known to us,” said one Israeli official. “Our intelligence penetration is 100 percent.”
Despite the bold and chilling tactics, Western intelligence agencies report no major defections from Iran’s armed forces or the Revolutionary Guard Corps—at least not yet.
As the geopolitical chess match continues, this new revelation highlights a growing trend of non-traditional warfare—where threats, fear, and psychological operations are increasingly shaping the battlefield as much as missiles and drones.
We will bring you continuing coverage of these developments and reactions from global leaders in our next segment.
Reporting by Carl Montel.
