Iranian-Born Israeli Charged with Spying for Tehran

Iranian-Born Israeli Charged

In a dramatic case that underscores the growing shadow war between Israel and Iran, Israeli prosecutors have charged an Iranian-born Israeli citizen with espionage and betrayal of state secrets, accusing him of passing highly sensitive military intelligence to Iranian operatives in the lead-up to Israel’s military operations.

The defendant, whose identity remains sealed under a court-imposed gag order, immigrated to Israel from Iran in 1999. Over a decade later, during a trip to Turkey, he allegedly reconnected with Iranian intelligence by visiting the Iranian embassy an act that, prosecutors say, marked the beginning of his descent into espionage.

After his embassy visit, the man began a personal relationship with an Iranian woman residing in Iran. According to court documents, it was through this relationship that Iranian intelligence managed to infiltrate his life. The woman, allegedly acting as an intermediary, facilitated contact between the defendant and Iranian agents.

In September 2024, during a trip to Turkey to visit his partner, the suspect reportedly met with two Iranian intelligence officers. Upon his return to Israel, communication continued via Telegram, a secure messaging app often used by actors involved in sensitive or clandestine activities.

The case takes a deeper turn with allegations that the defendant exploited a close friendship with another Israeli citizen who had ties to government sources. This associate had been in touch with an Iranian chemist, believed to possess valuable intelligence that could support Israeli strategic efforts against Iran.

The defendant was asked to translate the chemist’s correspondence from Farsi into Hebrew. However, prosecutors allege that instead of protecting this potentially valuable source, the defendant betrayed him. He is accused of handing the translated communications over to his Iranian handler and warning them to "keep an eye" on the chemist effectively sabotaging an Israeli intelligence channel.

Perhaps most damning are the allegations that in May 2025, a month before Israel launched an aerial assault on Iran, the suspect informed his Iranian contact of Israel’s intention to strike. He allegedly disclosed not only the timing of a possible air offensive but also details of a planned commando raid on Iranian nuclear sites.

This level of disclosure could have posed severe risks to Israeli operational security, troop safety, and diplomatic efforts in the region. Israeli authorities believe the defendant’s actions were motivated by loyalty to his Iranian handlers rather than ideology or financial gain.

On July 1, 2025, the suspect was arrested by Israeli police following a lengthy surveillance and counterintelligence operation. He now faces trial at the Lod District Court, charged with maintaining unlawful contact with a foreign agent and transmitting intelligence to an enemy state with the intent to undermine national security.

The prosecution insists that this case illustrates the ever-evolving methods used by hostile foreign actors to infiltrate Israeli society through personal relationships, cultural ties, and digital communication tools.

This espionage case is more than a legal proceeding it reflects the intensifying intelligence war between Iran and Israel, a conflict waged far from the frontlines and often hidden in plain sight. It also exposes the vulnerabilities within democratic societies where freedom of movement and association can be exploited by foreign powers.

As the trial continues, the case is expected to shed more light on Iran’s foreign intelligence strategies, Israel’s counterintelligence capabilities, and the complex human networks that link the two adversaries.

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