Less than a day after the arrest of the Iranian squads in Istanbul – the Foreign Ministry in Tehran responds to the remarks and submits: “The Israeli allegations that an Iranian plot was thwarted to harm Israelis are ridiculous, and were intended to harm our relations with Turkey.”
Yesterday it was reported in the evening news here 11 that pressure is being exerted to remove the unusual travel warning on Istanbul after the arrest of the Iranian squads. About a week ago, the National Security Council raised the level of travel warnings to Istanbul to the highest level.
This issue also came up in the talks of Foreign Minister Yair Lapid in Turkey yesterday. The defense establishment says there are still alerts about squads in the area, despite the significant arrests made. However, a senior Israeli source says: Removing the warning depends on the professionals – we are close to the end.
Turkish media released documents documenting the arrest of the Iranian squad yesterday. Five Iranian civilians staying in an apartment building were apprehended by Turkish intelligence, with two handguns and two silencers, numerous documents and digital materials seized during the search. According to reports, the investigation of the suspects at the police station continues.
5 Iranians with pistols and silencers: Turkish documentation of the arrest of the cell that intended to harm Israelis@BarShaffer pic.twitter.com/cwlpW3ONVi
– News here (@kann_news) June 23, 2022
The publication of the documentation comes hours after Turkey reported that Turkish security and intelligence forces thwarted a plan last week to kidnap a former Israeli ambassador and his wife and harm other Israelis. Troops reportedly raided the hotel room of Iranian squad members in the city on Thursday. During the raid, ten Iranians and Turks were arrested with weapons in their possession.