Iranian Quds Force Plot to Kill Israeli Ambassador in Mexico Highlights Expanding Overseas Targeting Campaign
Executive Summary
An Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force operation aimed at assassinating Israel’s ambassador to Mexico was disrupted earlier this year through cooperation among U.S., Israeli, and Mexican partners, according to U.S. and Israeli officials. The plot, active from late 2024 through mid-2025, fits a broader pattern of Iran directing attacks and surveillance against Israeli, Jewish, and Western officials overseas. Mexico publicly denied having records of the threat, while Iran dismissed the allegation as fabricated, underscoring ongoing diplomatic sensitivities.
Analysis
Iran’s Quds Force continues to pursue assassination operations abroad, targeting Israeli diplomats, dissidents, and U.S. officials as part of a long-running strategy of retaliation and deterrence. The reported plan to kill Israel’s ambassador in Mexico suggests Tehran is expanding operational reach into Latin America and potentially using regional diplomatic and intelligence channels for cover.
U.S. officials said the plot was initiated by Quds Force personnel at the end of 2024, remained active through the first half of 2025, and was “contained” once discovered, removing any present threat (CNN).
Israeli officials publicly thanked Mexican authorities for helping disrupt the network directed by Iran, framing it as part of an ongoing effort to prevent attacks on Israeli and Jewish targets worldwide (AP News).
Intelligence materials attributed the operation to IRGC officer Hasan Izadi, also known as Masood Rahnema, who allegedly began coordinating the plan while serving as an aide to Iran’s ambassador to Venezuela—indicating possible use of diplomatic postings in the region to facilitate covert activities (AP News).
Tehran rejected the allegation and sought to preserve its relationship with Mexico, calling the report a fabrication and insisting it would not violate Mexico’s trust, while Mexican authorities issued a statement saying they had no record of such a plot (CNN; AP News).
The alleged plan aligns with Iran’s recent pattern of overseas targeting efforts, which include attempts against former U.S. officials and plots in Europe, Asia, and Australia. These actions are shaped by Tehran’s desire to respond to perceived attacks on its leadership, especially after the 2020 U.S. strike that killed IRGC commander Qassem Soleimani. In the past year, Australia expelled the Iranian ambassador over antisemitic attacks attributed to Iranian operatives, and U.S. agencies have warned international partners about Tehran’s continued focus on assassination operations as a strategic tool.
Intelligence assessments suggest the Quds Force is increasingly active in Latin America due to long-standing Iranian relationships with Venezuela and growing regional networks that can provide logistical support, cover identities, and enable movement across borders. This environment creates opportunities for Tehran to test operations further from Middle Eastern or European counterintelligence pressure while still reaching high-value Israeli or Western targets. The denial from Mexican ministries may reflect an effort to avoid diplomatic fallout or public controversy while still cooperating behind the scenes with U.S. and Israeli security counterparts.
