Israel arrests US citizen on suspicion of spying for Iran

An American citizen was arrested in Israel earlier this month on suspicion of spying for Iran, police and the Israeli internal security agency said on Tuesday (30), accusing the suspect of crimes that included endangering Israel's security.

In a statement, police said the 20-year-old suspect had been in contact with Iranian intelligence agents over the past few months. He photographed and documented sensitive locations in Israel, police said, and received payments ranging from tens to hundreds of dollars per assignment.

Police have not identified the suspect, who was arrested on June 9. An Israel Police spokesman declined to comment on whether the suspect was a resident of Israel or a tourist.

"We will continue to detect and expose crimes of this nature, arrest those responsible and bring to justice anyone who puts the security of the State and its citizens at risk," Chief Inspector Amichai Fanta said in a statement.

The investigation was conducted under judicial secrecy, police said, and the suspect's detention was extended "according to the needs of the investigation." The suspect is expected to be formally charged in the coming days, according to police.

CNN previously reported that Israel has been facing an unprecedented wave of domestic espionage since 2023. At least 60 Israelis have been accused of spying for Iran, but this appears to be the first time an American has been detained in Israel on similar suspicions.

Several of the locations that prosecutors say were filmed by these alleged recruits were targets of Iranian missile attacks on Israel last year.

Source: CNN