Former Iranian official Amir Mousawi reappears in Iraq after disappearance in Cairo
Speculation in Iranian media had linked Mousawi’s case to an alleged Mossad operation
BAGHDAD, Iraq (MNTV) — Amir Mousawi, a former Iranian defense ministry advisor and diplomat, has resurfaced in Iraq after mysteriously vanishing during a recent trip to Egypt, Middle Eastern media reported.
His disappearance sparked days of speculation, including claims in Iranian outlets that he may have been abducted by Israel’s intelligence agency, Mossad.
Mousawi was last seen upon arrival at Cairo airport, traveling on his Iraqi passport. According to Azerbaijani reports, he was briefly taken for questioning by Egyptian authorities before his sudden disappearance.
Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei confirmed at the time that Mousawi was no longer serving as a diplomat but had once held the post of cultural attaché.
On Monday, Mousawi confirmed via his official X account that he had safely returned to Iraq following intervention by the country’s embassy in Cairo.
“We heard this morning about the disappearance of Mr. Amir Mousawi in Egypt. He is not currently a diplomat,” Baghaei said in Tehran, acknowledging the uncertainty surrounding his case.
His visit to Egypt was reportedly made under an official invitation from Cairo, though no further details were provided.
Iranian state-affiliated outlets suggested that his disappearance may have been linked to an Israeli intelligence operation, but there is no verification to the claims.
Mousawi is a well-known figure in regional media, having frequently appeared on Al-Mayadeen, Al Jazeera, and Iranian state television to voice anti-Israel positions.
Last month, he claimed that Iran could assemble up to 24 nuclear bombs within hours if it chose to pursue such a path.
His past statements have also drawn controversy. In 2014, he told Lebanese Al-Mayadeen TV that Iran would seek to arm Palestinian groups in the West Bank, urging the creation of a new missile front closer to Tel Aviv and Haifa.
Mousawi’s diplomatic career has faced turbulence before. He was expelled from Algeria in 2014 amid accusations that he was attempting to spread Iranian influence and promote Shiism, according to BBC Persian.
Moroccan officials also previously described him as a senior advisor with close ties to Iran’s Supreme Leader, suggesting his influence extended beyond his formal diplomatic posts.
His reappearance in Iraq brings temporary closure to the uncertainty around his fate, though questions remain over the circumstances of his detention and release in Egypt.
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