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Revealed: IDF Intelligence Division’s New “ZIRAN” Desk Now at the Heart of the Iran Campaign

A photo from the recent visit of Military Intelligence Chief Maj. Gen. Shlomi Binder to an IDF intelligence base has unintentionally revealed signage labeled “ZIRAN” on computer terminals — not blurred out. Behind the scenes: In mid-2024, the IDF’s Research Division established a new desk dedicated solely to Iran: ZIRAN (Hebrew acronym for “Iran Arena”). Until then, Iran was handled as part of the “Northeast Arena,” which also covered Syria and Iraq. But Binder made a strategic decision: Iran would now get its own dedicated team, headed by a full colonel. Just one year later, ZIRAN has become a central pillar of Israel’s intelligence operations — now playing a leading role in the ongoing campaign.