An intelligence operation believed to be run by the Iranian regime is attempting to use Telegram to recruit people in Britain to organize anti-Israel protests and publish anti-Zionist and antisemitic posters, The Times reported on Friday.
A reporter from the London-based outlet carried out an investigation into the matter by posing as a pro-regime sympathizer based in the British capital. He was in contact with a suspected Iranian agent for over two weeks after following a link posted on a public Telegram channel, which claimed to be linked to the regime's intelligence services.
During their conversations, the suspected Iranian agent claimed that they were handling several UK-based operatives, as well as being in communication with various people based in Israel.
The agent offered money in exchange for planning and organizing anti-Israel demonstrations in London, and also asked the undercover reporter to try to recruit others from their social and work contacts, The Times reported.
"Anyone with any ability should declare it and explain what their abilities and access are so we can make a plan for them," the agent reportedly said.
Anti-Israel, US posters include Epstein allegations, Kahanists, 'No Kings' anti-Trump imagery
The agent sent copies of several images that he wanted posted, including one that blamed "mass starvation" in Iran on "Epstein and the Kahanists," according to the report.
Another image utilized the "No Kings" protests against US President Donald Trump at the time.
The reporter told the agent that they had some "basic coding skills," which led the agent to ask if they could create an online petition against the "genocide" of Iranian children, The Times said.
The agent later offered money in exchange for organizing a protest against Israel and the US in London.
Israeli prosecutors have linked the same Telegram account that the agent initially advertised on to a man from Holon who was recruited by Iranian handlers to photograph military bases and recruit others in exchange for money, according to indictments.
The Iranian embassy and Telegram did not respond to the outlet's request for comment.
The interactions between the suspected agent and undercover reporter highlight a method by which Iran and other hostile states are likely attempting to hire petty criminals via social media for operations on foreign soil, the outlet noted.
Emergence of Hakarat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiya linked with Iranian-hired petty criminals
In recent months, a group calling itself Hakarat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiya (HAYI) has claimed several arson attacks against Jewish and Israeli institutions in Western Europe, particularly in London. Some analysts have commented that HAYI is likely a front group for such Iranian-hired petty criminals.
HAYI is also believed to be linked with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.