U.S. Official: Iran's Quds Force Plotted to Kill Israel's Ambassador in Mexico — Plot Contained

U.S. official says Iran's Quds Force plotted assassination of Israel's ambassador in Mexico

An elite unit of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) allegedly developed a plan to assassinate Israel's ambassador to Mexico, U.S. officials say. According to a U.S. official familiar with the matter who spoke on the condition of anonymity, the plan was hatched by the IRGC's Quds Force at the end of 2024 and remained active through the first half of 2025. Authorities say the plot has since been contained and no longer poses a security threat.

Claims, denials and official reactions

Iran rejected the allegation, calling it a 'media invention, a great big lie' and saying the report was intended to damage Tehran's ties with Mexico. In a post to X, the Iranian embassy in Mexico said: 'The security and reputation of Mexico are also the security and reputation of Iran. We will never betray the trust that the government of Mexico has placed in us.'

Israel's Foreign Ministry thanked Mexican authorities for disrupting what it described as 'a terrorist network directed by Iran that sought to attack Israel's ambassador in Mexico.' The ministry identified the ambassador as Einat Kranz Neiger, who has served in Mexico since August 2023.

Mexican officials, however, told reporters they have no record of any plot targeting the Israeli ambassador. U.S. and Israeli officials said their agencies will continue cooperating with international partners to investigate and counter threats from Iran and affiliated proxies.

Context and past allegations

U.S. and Israeli authorities have repeatedly accused Iran and the IRGC of planning attacks on Israeli, Jewish and Western targets overseas. In August 2024, Australia expelled Iran's ambassador after its intelligence service linked Iran to at least two antisemitic attacks; Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced plans to list the IRGC as a terrorist organization. U.S. reporting has also said Iran plotted assassination attempts against senior American officials after the January 2020 killing of IRGC commander Qassem Soleimani, including alleged plans targeting former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and former National Security Adviser John Bolton.

Status: U.S. officials say the Mexico-directed plot has been contained and does not presently pose an imminent security threat. Investigations and international intelligence cooperation reportedly continue.

Note: Reporting is based on statements from anonymous U.S. officials and public responses from Iranian, Israeli and Mexican authorities. Some details remain disputed.