The United States and Israel have accused Iran of plotting the assassination of Israel’s ambassador to Mexico, in what is the latest attempt to take the conflict between the two countries to another region.
Israel says Mexican authorities intervened to stop an assassination attempt on the ambassador, Einat Kranz-Leiger.
“We thank the security services and law enforcement services of a terrorist network controlled by Iran that intended to attack the Israeli ambassador in Mexico,” a statement from Israel’s foreign ministry said.
A US official said that the revolutionary groups of the revolutionary guard started the plot in late 2024 and that it was broken this year.
The plot is considered to involve operatives recruiting the Iranian embassy in Venezuela, whose left-wing president Nicolás Maduro has a tactical alliance with Tehran.
“The plan is contained and not looking for a threat right now,” the US official said on condition of anonymity.
“This is the latest in a long history of targeting Iranian diplomats, journalists, who disagree with every country where Iran has a presence.”
The US official did not provide detailed evidence or say how the plan was contained.
Iran’s Mission to the United Nations declined to comment. There was no immediate comment from Mexico.
The considered plan will take place after Israel on 1 April 2024 attacked the Iranian Embassy complex in Damascus, Syria, which is a close official of the revolutionary guard.
That attack prompted vows of retaliation by Iran, which has fired missiles and drones at Israel.
Israel a year ago carried out even more bombings in Iran, killing more than 1,000 people. The United States, Israel’s main ally, has joined the bombing of key sites in Iran’s controversial nuclear program.
The clerical state of Iran is a critical supporter of Hamas, the Palestinian armed militant group in Gaza that carried out an unprecedented attack on Israel on 7 October 2023.
Israel responded with a relentless campaign that left most of Gaza in shambles and expanded its military presence across the region, hitting Iran, Syria, Qatar and Yemen.
Israeli intelligence has accused Israel of planning to target Jews abroad.
Australia has expelled Iran’s ambassador over what it says is Iranian involvement in two arson attacks – against a synagogue in Melbourne and a Kosher Restaurant in Sydney.
Latin America is no stranger to violence linked to the Middle East. A 1994 bombing of a Jewish center in Buenos Aires killed 85 people, with Argentina and Israel blaming it on the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah at the request of Iran.
Iran remains home to a historic Jewish community despite angered by Israel through the clerical government that took power in the 1979 Islamic revolution.
Mexico, also home to a majority Jewish community, has known Israel since the early days of the state’s existence.
Mexico, which favors non-interference in international affairs, has taken a more cautious stance on the Gaza War, leading investigations into war crimes in Israel but maintaining diplomatic relations.