Unit 840

Unit 840 is a covert operational unit within Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Quds Force, responsible for conducting clandestine operations outside of Iran. The unit has been linked to assassination plots, terrorist activities, and destabilization efforts targeting Iranian dissidents, Israeli interests, and Western allies across the Middle East, Europe, and Latin America.

Overview

Unit 840 operates under the Quds Force, the external operations wing of the IRGC, which is designated as a terrorist organization by the United States, Canada, Saudi Arabia, and several other countries. The unit is believed to focus on intelligence gathering, recruitment, and execution of covert missions, including targeted assassinations and kidnappings.

Leadership and key figures

As of 2025, Unit 840 is led by Yazdan Mir (alias Sardar Bagheri), who oversees the unit's clandestine operations globally. One of its top Commanders is Mohammad Reza Ansari (aliases: Barkirsaghi, Mostafa Naseri), designated by the UK for involvement in hostile activities, including assassinations and threats to life. One of Unit 840's key figures was Colonel Hassan Sayyad Khodaei, who was assassinated in Tehran in May 2022. Israeli intelligence sources identified him as a leading operative in planning cross-border attacks. Reports suggest that he was instrumental in developing operations targeting Israeli and Jewish communities globally. Another figure is Mohsen Bozorg (real name Mohsen Alinajad ), who leads European operations, specifically the “German Network” and coordinates with operatives termed “Bozorg’s soldiers”.

Known key figures

Mohanmmad Ali Minaei (alias Mohammadi) - Head of Unit 840's Iraq station, also linked to Unit 400 and Hamed Abdollahi’s network.

Avat Hosseini Far - Facilitator in Turkey, coordinating with criminal elements to support Unit 840’s logistical operations.

Hamed Asghari - Security chief for Mohsen Fakhrizadeh (Iran’s nuclear scientist), part of Unit 840’s network involved in European operations.

Activities and operations

Middle East and Israel

Unit 840 has been linked to multiple operations targeting Israeli interests. According to reports, the unit was responsible for placing explosive devices along the Israeli-Syrian border, an operation that was thwarted by Israeli security forces. The unit has also played a role in arming and training Iranian-backed militias operating in Syria and Iraq. Collaboration with Hezbollah and Syrian Militias establishing terror infrastructure against Israel, including IEDs and mines. The unit has also exploited drug-smuggling routes between Syria and Jordan to transport weapons to Hamas and Islamic Jihad in the West Bank.

Europe

Unit 840 was involved in multiple assassination plots and targeted killings across Europe and beyond. In Germany, a network led by Mohsen Bozorg, also known as Mohsen Alinajad Kari Bozorg, has been recruiting operatives for intelligence gathering and targeted assassinations. This group, referred to as “Bozorg’s soldiers,” has focused on eliminating Iranian dissidents, Israelis, and Western figures.

One of the known assassination attempts involved a plot to kill an Israeli artist in Germany. However, the attack was aborted due to heightened security measures. The assassin had received orders from Ramin Yektaparast, an Iranian-German gangster with close ties to the IRGC. Yektaparast has also been linked to orchestrating attacks on Jewish institutions, including synagogues in Essen and Bochum. Operatives such as Babak J. were arrested for their involvement in acts of terrorism.

In the United Kingdom, Unit 840 planned an assassination known as the “wedding” plot. The operation involved a $200,000 contract to stab two Iran International news anchors in London. However, the mission was foiled when a smuggler working as a double agent revealed the plan. Orders from higher-ups within the unit emphasized that the mission must be completed "in any circumstances."

Beyond Germany and the UK, Unit 840 has extended its operations to Turkey and France. An IRGC operative confessed to plotting attacks against an Israeli national in Istanbul, an American general in Germany, and a French journalist. The unit reportedly offered a financial incentive of $150,000 upfront, with an additional $1 million promised upon successful completion of the assassinations.

Unit 840 also operates through criminal and proxy networks to carry out its objectives while minimizing detection. The unit actively recruits members from local criminal groups, including the Polish mafia, Pakistani operatives in Africa, and drug trafficking organizations. In Pakistan, the network planned assassinations in Congo, utilizing operatives trained in Iran and Syria. Meanwhile, in Poland, Unit 840 collaborated with local criminal elements on a failed drone attack in Warsaw that targeted an Israeli figure. These recruitment tactics allow the unit to extend its reach globally while leveraging existing criminal networks to execute high-risk operations.

On May, 2025, British counterterrorism authorities have arrested five Iranian nationals suspected of plotting an attack on the Israeli embassy in London, with indications pointing to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' Unit 840 as the orchestrators. Unit 840, known for its covert operations abroad, is believed to have planned a bombing or assassination targeting embassy staff. The arrests, conducted across various UK cities, are part of one of the most significant counterterrorism operations in recent years. While Iran has denied involvement, the incident underscores growing concerns over Tehran's overseas activities and has intensified calls within the UK to designate the IRGC as a terrorist organization.

Latin America

In recent years, Iran has intensified its focus on Latin America, seeking to bolster its ideological and political presence. Iranian former President Ebrahim Raisi's visit to Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Cuba in June 2023 underscores this commitment. Beyond diplomatic engagements, Iran relies on organizations like Hezbollah to disseminate its ideology and expand its influence across Latin America. Reports indicate that Unit 840 has sought to expand Iranian influence in Latin America by supporting Hezbollah-linked networks. The unit has allegedly been involved in orchestrating attacks against Jewish and Israeli targets in the region. The 1994 bombing of the Argentine-Israeli Mutual Association (AMIA) in Buenos Aires, which resulted in the death of 85 people and the 2021 attempt to assassinate two Israeli businessmen in Colombia are examples for the unit's capabilities. According to investigations, the unit has a great ability to use regional resources in its international operations like Tren de Aragua and other local groups within Latin Americ.

International response

The United States and its allies have imposed sanctions on Unit 840 and individuals associated with its activities. Security agencies in various countries continue to monitor and counter the unit's efforts. Israel has actively targeted operatives linked to Unit 840, leading to the elimination of key figures in its command structure.

See also

* Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps
* Quds Force
* Iran and state-sponsored terrorism
* Unit 400
* Hassan Sayyad Khodaei
* Yazdan Mir
* Alborz Corps
* Vali-ye Amr special forces unit

References

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Quds Force
Quds Force personnel
Anti-Israeli sentiment in Iran
Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps military branches
Iran
Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps
Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps officers
Hezbollah
Lebanon
Organizations of the Syrian civil war
Drug traffickers
Covert operations
Covert organizations