Adam Werritty, the adviser and close friend of Britain's recently resigned Defense Secretary Liam Fox, was accused on Sunday of involvement in a plot to bring down Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and of having links to the Mossad, Haaretz reported.
An investigation by the U.K.'s Independent on Sunday newspaper revealed that Werritty made several visits to Iran, and had conducted meetings with Iranian opposition groups both in London and in Washington since 2007, when Liam Fox was shadow Defense Secretary.
One source told the newspaper that Werritty worked closely with American neo-conversatives to remove Ahmadinejad from power, according to the report.
Multiple sources also claimed that the Mossad thought Werritty was a senior British defense official, and that he was given access to the highest levels of Israeli government, the Independent on Sunday reported.
One Israeli source told the newspaper that, Werritty was regarded as Liam Fox's chief of staff, and was seen as an "expert on Iran," despite the fact that he did not serve the U.K.'s Ministry of Defense in an official capacity, according to the Independent on Sunday report.
There was "no question" that Werritty was seen as a U.K. government defense official, the newspaper quoted the Israeli source as saying.
The U.K's secret intelligence service, MI6, has questioned Werritty about his visits to Iran, the Independent on Sunday reported.
Britain's Defense Secretary Liam Fox resigned Friday following a simmering scandal over his use of Werritty, a close friend, as an adviser, his office said.
Fox, who belongs to the right wing of the ruling Conservative Party, had come under attack for using Werrity, a long-time friend, as his adviser.
Werritty, 34, who was not employed by the Ministry of Defense (MoD) had accompanied Fox on numerous foreign trips since the Conservatives came to power in coalition with the Liberal Democrats in May, 2010.
As the scandal simmered on, questions were asked about the security implications of the relationship and about the financing of Werritty's role.
There were also signs that the affair was beginning to have an impact on the armed forces, given Britain's current involvement in Afghanistan and Libya.