Handala Hack, a cyberattack group linked with Iran, targeted London-based Iran International journalist Mojtaba Pourmohsen, claiming the senior correspondent was a Mossad agent, The Times reported last week.
The hackers posted Pourmohsen’s photo and Iranian ID card along with the accusation.
Pourmohsen has written multiple articles critiquing the Islamic regime and has posted on social media about the Mossad’s alleged infiltration of its structures.
The hackers threatened to expose Pourmohsen, whom they accused of acting as a spy for the past four years, and his supposed Mossad handlers.
“Your expiration date has long passed,” the message read. “Thinking of texting your Mossad handler again? Go ahead. You’re already burned. Which one should we expose first?”
Islamic regime targets Iran International
The regime has regularly targeted dissident journalists from Iran International.
Three Iranian nationals, alleged to be regime spies, appeared before the Old Bailey last month. The three men were said to have targeted journalists from Iran International and were charged with engaging in conduct likely to assist the Iranian foreign intelligence service and engaging in surveillance, reconnaissance, and open-source research, with the intention of committing serious violence against a person in the UK.
Iran International journalist Pouria Zeraat was also stabbed last year after being lured outside by a fake Jerusalem Post reporter.
The media outlet also temporarily moved to Washington in 2023 due to threats but returned to London later that year, and has faced accusations of being linked to Saudi Arabia while also being targeted by the Iranian government.
Metropolitan Police protected the site in November 2022 after “credible intelligence” was collected, which suggested two Iran International journalists were in danger of attack.
Zvika Klein contributed to this report.