BREAKING: Former Israeli Mossad Chief Yossi Cohen Warns Iran Will Keep Lying And Urges Continued Vigilance

According to a report by The Jerusalem Post on Monday, April 20, 2026, former head of Israel’s intelligence agency Yossi Cohen has issued a strong warning about Iran, saying the country will “continue to lie” and that neither agreements nor ceasefires should be seen as a guarantee of changed intentions.

Speaking at a Remembrance Day ceremony in Jerusalem on Monday evening, Cohen said Israel’s recent military and intelligence achievements should not lead to complacency, stressing that the country’s security challenges remain ongoing.

“Our battle for the State of Israel is not over,” he said, adding that Israelis would continue to be called upon for “sacrifice and boundless Zionism.”

Cohen directly linked his remarks to Israel’s long-running confrontation with Iran and its regional allies. He praised the coordination between Israel’s military and intelligence services, saying recent operations had demonstrated their combined strength and capability.

“During both Operation Rising Lion and Operation Roaring Lion, the IDF and the intelligence community showed Israel’s military and intelligence strength,” he said. However, he cautioned against assuming that such gains would lead to lasting change in adversaries’ intentions.

“But we must not deceive ourselves: the Iranians will continue to lie, and we must not trust them or rest on our laurels,” Cohen said. “No agreement or ceasefire will change their fundamental ambitions.”

The remarks reflect long-standing Israeli concerns over Iran’s nuclear programme and its influence across the region through allied groups in Lebanon, Syria, and the Gaza Strip.

Cohen also highlighted what he described as the close operational relationship between Israel’s military and intelligence services, noting that much of their work takes place away from public view.

“I was there when Mossad operatives and IDF soldiers acted as one body, shoulder to shoulder,” he said, referring to the Israel Defense Forces and the intelligence agency.

He said joint operations had focused on containing Iran, preventing nuclear advancement, and countering armed groups in neighbouring territories.

Much of the speech, however, was dedicated to bereaved families of Israeli soldiers and civilians killed in conflict. Cohen described them as “the backbone of the State of Israel,” praising their resilience and continued contribution to national life despite personal loss.

“We understand that our war does not end with this ceremony,” he said. “Your war is a daily one, in the struggle to keep smiling, to build, and to be rebuilt from the fragments.”

He added that the state has a responsibility to support bereaved families, saying their rights must be “anchored and protected” as a matter of duty.

“That is the very least the state owes you in the face of your immense sacrifice,” Cohen said.