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Israeli warning call to top Iranian general: ‘You have 12 hours to escape’
The Washington Post ^ | June 23, 2025 1:55 a.m. EDT | Warren P. Strobel , Souad Mekhennet and Yeganeh Torbati

Posted on 06/23/2025 10:43:00 AM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum

An audio recording obtained by The Washington Post is a window into the covert campaign by Israeli intelligence to intimidate and divide Iranian military officials.

In the hours after Israel launched its first wave of strikes against Iran on June 13, killing top military leaders and nuclear scientists, Israeli intelligence operatives launched a covert campaign to intimidate senior officials with the apparent aim of dividing and destabilizing Tehran’s theocratic regime, according to three people familiar with the operation.

People working for Israel’s security services who speak Persian, Iran’s primary language, called senior Iranian officials on their cellphones and warned them that they, too, would die unless they ceased supporting the regime of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader, according to the three people, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss clandestine operations. One of them estimated that more than 20 Iranians in positions of power were contacted.

The Washington Post obtained an audio recording and transcript of one such call, which took place the same day, June 13, that Israel began its bombardment of Iran.

“I can advise you now, you have 12 hours to escape with your wife and child. Otherwise, you’re on our list right now,” an Israeli intelligence operative told a senior Iranian general close to the country’s rulers, according to the audio recording. The operative then suggested that Israel could train weapons on the general and his family at any moment. “We’re closer to you than your own neck vein. Put this in your head. May God protect you,” he said.

The general, a member of Iran’s powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, was told he had 12 hours to make a video disassociating himself from the Iranian government.

“How should I send it to you?” the general replies.

“I will send you a Telegram ID...”

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Iran; Israel; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: 20250613; fakenews; iran; landshark; rop; souadmekhennet; tds; telegram; telegramid; warrenpstrobel; washingtoncompost; yeganehtorbati; zot
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1 posted on 06/23/2025 10:43:00 AM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

Now you’re on our rist....!


2 posted on 06/23/2025 10:46:20 AM PDT by Common Sense 101
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

Francisco Scaramanga, the villain in the Man With the Golden Gun would send a bullet with a name on it.

Iranian would probably faint.


3 posted on 06/23/2025 10:49:12 AM PDT by frank ballenger (There's a battle outside and it's raging. It'll soon shake your windows and rattle your walls. )
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

I like the “May God protect you.” nice touch


4 posted on 06/23/2025 10:50:45 AM PDT by j.havenfarm (24 years on Free Republic, 12/10/24! More than 10,500 replies and still not shutting up!)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum
“How should I send it to you?” the general replies.

Yup... And now in the Ayatollah's head you're an Israeli spy... These sorry suckers are in a no win situation... LOL

5 posted on 06/23/2025 10:53:28 AM PDT by jerod (Nazis were essentially Socialist in Hugo Boss uniforms... Get over it!)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum
Iranian officials consider removing Ali Khamenei in plot to replace supreme leader - report
6 posted on 06/23/2025 10:54:12 AM PDT by Oorang (Politicians:-a feeble band of lowly reptiles who shun the light and who lurk in their own dens. )
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To: j.havenfarm

Remember It’s not what you know. It’s what others THINK you know. Guy’s gotta be soiling his pants.


7 posted on 06/23/2025 10:55:47 AM PDT by DIRTYSECRET
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

Wish half the US intelligence agencies were working for the greater good of the US and its citizens, instead of weird ideologies like the Demo-crock Party, a One World government, Islam, or whatever entity the FBI has become loyal to. We need help from the Mossad, they know who, how, and when to delete problems. Bet they would do some more deletions over here.


8 posted on 06/23/2025 10:57:59 AM PDT by Colt1851Navy (What was wrong with Nixon?)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

How good of wapo to expose those wishing to defect. (spit!)


9 posted on 06/23/2025 11:00:24 AM PDT by Flaming Conservative ((Pray without ceasing))
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

Wasn’t Israel supposed to do something bigger and better than the pager thing last Thursday or Friday? Did I miss it?


10 posted on 06/23/2025 11:04:55 AM PDT by Pocketdoor
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To: Pocketdoor

Like taking out their nuke facilities?


11 posted on 06/23/2025 11:07:06 AM PDT by shelterguy
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To: shelterguy

I don’t know I got the feeling it was going to be something else. Plus we bombed those.


12 posted on 06/23/2025 11:10:34 AM PDT by Pocketdoor
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

LOL...“We’re closer to you than your own neck vein.”

No pagers of walkie-talkies to go BOOM?


13 posted on 06/23/2025 11:12:15 AM PDT by ProtectOurFreedom (“Diversity is our Strength” just doesn’t carry the same message as “Death from Above”)
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To: jerod

It’s a great and profitable career ... while it lasts.


14 posted on 06/23/2025 11:14:00 AM PDT by Mr Ramsbotham ("God is a spirit, and man His means of walking on the earth.")
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To: E. Pluribus Unum
I suspect it's fake;
the first question for me is would the Iranian regime have the capacity to trace call activity, especially to its senior officers? If so, why would a general even stay on the line ? It would implicate him unless he was specifically tracing it with security (which I doubt) and even then he would be under scrutiny. If not, then they are incompetent.
15 posted on 06/23/2025 11:17:14 AM PDT by af_vet_1981 ( The bus came by and I got on, That's when it all began.)
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To: Pocketdoor

I agree but I think now that Israel was talking about bringing in help to get rid of nuke sites.


16 posted on 06/23/2025 11:19:11 AM PDT by shelterguy
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To: ProtectOurFreedom

It’s in the holy koran to “smite their necks”


17 posted on 06/23/2025 11:22:58 AM PDT by deks (Deo duce, ferro comitante · God for guide, sword for companion)
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To: deks
It’s in the holy koran to “smite their necks”

Ah, so the neck vein threat has deep meaning to those jihadis. Thanks. That nuance escaped me.

18 posted on 06/23/2025 11:24:21 AM PDT by ProtectOurFreedom (“Diversity is our Strength” just doesn’t carry the same message as “Death from Above”)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum; lightman

Phooey to the generals!

Attack the ayatollahs and mullahs!


19 posted on 06/23/2025 11:24:57 AM PDT by Honorary Serb (Kosovo is Serbia! Free Srpska! Abolish ICTY!)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

“Hi, I’m Ben Netanyahu. I’d like to talk to you about the warrantee on your goat.”


20 posted on 06/23/2025 11:30:41 AM PDT by dynachrome (Auslander Raus!)
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