The chief of Mossad, Roman Gofman, has removed the heads of the agency’s Intelligence Directorate and Iran Division following the unsuccessful efforts to incite a regime change in Iran, according to reports from Israeli media on Thursday. The dismissals were said to have been coordinated with the officials involved, who consented despite ongoing internal reviews of the Iran operation still being incomplete. Both are expected to remain within Mossad in different capacities.

Sources revealed that the head of the Influence Directorate, who played a leading role in the Iran operation, had already been dismissed when Gofman assumed his position as Mossad chief in June. The move reflects a significant management shakeup within the intelligence agency amid scrutiny of its handling of the Iranian regime-change efforts.

A source familiar with the decision-making process within Mossad criticized Gofman’s actions, suggesting a political motive linked to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. According to this source, Gofman was a key backer of the plan to alter the Iranian government while serving as Netanyahu’s military secretary. The dismissals appear aimed at distancing Netanyahu from responsibility for the operation’s failure, the source claimed.

The same source argued that the regime-change plan did not fail due to operational flaws, but rather because it never received approval from then-U.S. President Donald Trump. The final authorization to implement the plan rested with Netanyahu, not the Mossad operatives involved, the source maintained. The dismissals were described as a "cowardly act" and a failure to support Mossad personnel who have dedicated years to Israel’s security.

Since taking office, Gofman has initiated a thorough internal investigation into the Mossad's activities surrounding the October 7 incident and the subsequent conflict. This inquiry is part of his onboarding process and is not intended to replace previous internal reviews carried out by the agency.

In an unusual step, Gofman recently enlisted five external advisers to help shape Mossad’s operational goals going forward. These advisers are notable for not having risen through Mossad’s own ranks, marking a departure from tradition within the organization.

In March, reports emerged that then-Mossad chief David Barnea had assured Netanyahu the agency could quickly mobilize opposition within Iran to trigger protests leading to regime collapse. Barnea also shared this assessment with senior Trump administration officials during a visit to Washington in January. Netanyahu reportedly supported the plan, viewing it as a plausible approach to prompt regime change in Tehran, though he later expressed frustration that the anticipated uprising did not materialize.

However, some sources close to the Mossad disputed these reports, stating that the agency leadership believed protests in Tehran would emerge only after a conflict had concluded and anticipated that any regime replacement would be a lengthy process.

The evolving leadership changes and investigative efforts underscore internal tensions and political pressures surrounding Mossad’s role in one of Israel’s most sensitive and high-stakes covert operations.