Iran foreign policy official says China could guarantee possible US deal

Israel Hayom reported that Mossad created a covert unit for infiltration and destabilization operations against the Islamic Republic, saying the unit has become part of a broader strategy aimed at accelerating Tehran’s collapse.

The Israeli newspaper said the unit was established in 2021 after David Barnea became Mossad chief and was initially used to force senior Iranian officials out of positions of influence, including by leaking damaging information through media and social networks.

The former head of the branch, identified only as O., told Israel Hayom that such operations were “much cheaper and simpler” than assassination and said Mossad had already been responsible for the dismissal of several senior officials in Iran.

O. said the Islamic Republic’s overthrow had become one of Mossad’s core missions and described recent operations as part of a longer process rather than a finished campaign.

“We are not done with Iran. We are just getting started,” he said.

Israel Hayom also cited sources who recently spoke with Barnea as saying the Mossad chief believes the Islamic Republic could fall by the end of 2026 if President Donald Trump refuses to sign an agreement that would allow Iran’s economy to recover and if the blockade continues.

A draft one-page US-Iran memorandum of understanding would set parameters for a roughly 30-day negotiating period aimed at de-escalation, according to the Wall Street Journal.

The framework reportedly includes reopening the Strait of Hormuz to pre-war levels of commercial shipping, including measures such as clearing mines and ending harassment, alongside a US easing of restrictions on Iranian ports.

It also calls for discussions on Iran’s highly enriched uranium stockpiles and broader nuclear issues in a second phase, with key details on enrichment limits, timelines and uranium handling still unresolved.

Sanctions relief would be phased and tied to progress in talks, with limited early access to some frozen Iranian assets, including funds held in Qatar, according to the report.

The Wall Street Journal said the preliminary framework could ease US military pressure and support de-escalation, including a possible ceasefire extension, though it remains under discussion and subject to approval.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is scheduled to meet Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar on Friday, according to the State Department.

Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Allison Hooker is also scheduled to meet Oman’s ambassador to the United States on the same day.

The meetings come as indirect US-Iran talks continue over a possible memorandum of understanding aimed at extending a ceasefire and opening further negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program.

White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller said on Thursday Iran is putting a “complete reopening of the strait” on the table as negotiations with the United States continued over a possible agreement, in an interview with Fox.

"Now Iran is putting on the table a complete reopening of the strait as has been discussed and many other concessions that are going to be unveiled in the time to come," Miller said.

"But again, there's no deal until there's a deal, nothing's final until it's final and President Trump's been clear that he reserves the option now or at any time in the future to do whatever is necessary to defend and protect America's national security," he added.

A local IRGC-Basij commander in Iran has said on Thursday the use of what he called unauthorized satellite internet systems such as Starlink cannot be hidden from electronic monitoring systems, according to official media.

Hassan Pourghorban, commander of the Al-Ghadir Basij base in Lavasan and Shemiranat in Tehran province said satellite internet devices used in mountainous areas, remote villas or basements can be detected through electronic surveillance, including traffic patterns, precise geographic location and estimates of usage times.

"There has been an increase in the seizure of Starlink satellite internet receivers in the area," he added.