Former Mossad official Dr. Udi Levy, who previously headed the agency’s Tzalzal unit, said Wednesday that recent reports alleging the Mossad cultivated ties with former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad did not surprise him, saying one of the primary objectives of any intelligence agency is to reach the highest levels of an enemy’s leadership and attempt to recruit senior figures.

Speaking to Radio 103FM, Levy said the reported operation should also prompt Israelis to examine Qatar’s own activities. “Everyone is celebrating the Mossad’s remarkable success in this matter,” he said. “But nobody draws the comparison — the Qataris did the exact same thing to us. It’s about reaching the decision-makers, influencing them, and getting them to do what you want.”

Levy, who is considered one of Israel’s leading experts on the Gulf states, described Qatar as a particularly dangerous actor, saying it has returned to playing the role it knows best: enthusiastically supporting radical organizations while simultaneously serving as a leading regional mediator. He claimed Qatar is deeply involved in Syria, Lebanon and Gaza, while also maintaining close cooperation with Iran. Levy questioned why Qatar has not been declared an enemy state and argued that the same questions should also be asked in Washington.

Turning to Iran, Levy said the regime’s refusal to quickly seek an agreement with the United States stems not only from ideology, but also from confidence in an economic system it has built despite years of sanctions. He described it as a “hybrid” network combining trade, money, gold and banking into a single framework that allows Tehran to bypass sanctions and exploit weaknesses in international cooperation. According to Levy, Iran began building this system after the 2015 nuclear agreement and, together with China and Russia, is working to create an alternative to American economic dominance and the U.S. dollar.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)