The June 13 strike by Israel is regarded as one of the most severe and strategic attacks Iran has faced in its history. The Shia-majority nation lost nearly 15 senior state commanders in the assault, which unfolded over the course of two days. To the world, the June 13 strike appeared to be a sudden assault by the Jewish state.
But as the full story emerges, it reveals the shadowy role of a French woman who had been weakening Iran from within for years. Her name is Catherine Perez-Shakdam- a woman who trained, prepared, and even married with a mission in mind. She infiltrated Iran, gained the trust of top commanders, and became a favourite of the country’s supreme leadership. The entire plan had been in the making for 7 years- Now Israeli Mossad Spy, Shakdam, is hitting the headlines across the world as the intelligent lady who infiltrated the heart of Iran and helped orchestrate one of the most devastating blows to the Ayatollah Ali Khamenei regime in recent history. But how did Catherine enter Iran? Read on to know more.
Who Is Catherine Perez-Shakdam?
Catherine Perez-Shakdam was born into a secular Jewish family in France. She was a striking and fearless French journalist and analyst. Reports suggest she was identified by Israel nearly a decade ago to carry out a long-term mission. Catherine underwent years of training to master the craft of espionage- learning how to blend in, deceive, and win trust. Her goal was to infiltrate the Iranian regime and become a trusted figure among its top leadership. She married a Muslim Yemeni man she met at the University of London—reportedly as part of her plan to integrate into the Muslim community. The marriage ended in divorce in 2014.
While working as a journalist for the state-controlled Russian television station RT in 2017, Catherine began meeting senior Iranian leaders. From there, she launched her mission by building relationships with Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and former President Ebrahim Raisi, who died in a plane crash in 2024, as well as the former Quds Force Commander Soleimani. She infiltrated elite circles, gaining the trust of top regime loyalists. Very few people guessed that this polite and well-spoken journalist was a top spy for Mossad. Some Iranian sources say she even wrote articles or content for Ayatollah Khamenei. But now, anything that showed her connection to Khamenei’s website has been removed from the internet. Her past is being wiped out, even as the effects of her actions are still being discovered.
Catherine had worked as a consultant for the United Nations Security Council in Yemen. This helped her build a strong reputation. She mainly wrote articles that aligned with Iran’s Shi’ite. Radicalisation, anti-Semitism, and Islamic extremism were other topics that she wrote regularly. Her work was praised in many parts of the world. But behind this respected public image, she was secretly preparing the ground for one of Mossad’s most dangerous missions in Iran.
Left For Iran To Embrace Shia Islam
Left For Iran in 2017 To Integrate with ‘Shia’ Islam. Her connection with the top leaders helped her to migrate to Iran, where she started practising Shi’ite customs and rituals. Iran is an officially Shia Muslim country, with approximately 90-95% of its population adhering to the Shia branch of Islam. Her blogs and stories were shared on Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s official website and the Iranian website.
Shakdam Publicly Embraces Islam
Shakdam was so smart and supremely trained that the first thing she did after entering Iran was to publicly convert to Islam. She started acting like a serious and devoted person who was truly interested in Islam. Her interest looked real. She even began writing blogs for Khamenei.ir, the official website of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
But behind this image of being religious and smart, she had a secret goal. She entered powerful groups and earned the trust of important people close to the government. Her biggest strength was her charm. Catherine became friends with the wives of top government and military officers in Iran. Slowly, she entered their homes and personal lives. Through friendly visits and private talks, she got into places where secret things were openly discussed, because everyone thought she was one of them
Some reports suggested that she had been employed as a writer for Khamenei himself. Once her links with Israel came to light, Khamenei.ir- Ayatollah Khamenei’s website had to delete her articles and disavow her.
One of her blogs is “Of Cults and Causes: The New Ideological Possession in Our Midst,” which was shared on Khamenei’s official website.
Catherine made friends with the wives of Iran’s top government and military officials. Over time, she slowly became a trusted presence in their homes and daily lives. Through casual visits and personal conversations, she was welcomed into private spaces where important and confidential matters were freely discussed. The people around her believed she was one of their own, never suspecting her true intentions. She was allowed to visit all sensitive and critical places in Iran. The photographs she took were often used by the military to support her pro-Iran articles. No one objected to her taking pictures at sensitive locations. By this, she was sending signals, hints and locations to her ‘Bosses’ in Israel. She uncovered the clandestine network of Iran’s most guarded state secrets, spanning nuclear installations, key scientists, and the covert operations of Revolutionary Guard leaders.
Went Missing From June 10
Israel launched its deadly attack on Iran on June 13, 2025. Just three days earlier, on June 10, Catherine disappeared from Israel. Iran has launched a nationwide manhunt. Her posters are plastered across cities. Security agencies are interrogating dozens and executing suspected collaborators. Three men have already been executed whom Iran claims as Israel’s spies. The public has been asked to report anything unusual they see. But Catherine is still missing. Some intelligence officers believe she may have changed her looks and taken on a new name. They think she might be living in another part of the world, still working for Mossad, with a new identity and a new mission.
A Tale Beyond Espionage
Catherine Perez-Shakdam has carved out a fearsome legend as Israel’s boldest and most perilous spy. Her tale goes beyond mere espionage- it’s a masterclass in deception so intricate that a regime embraced her as one of their own, only to crumble under her covert machinations. As the dust settles, one chilling fact endures: Iran wasn’t toppled by external forces. It was unravelled from the inside by a woman whose words wove trust and whose actions sowed chaos.
