The silhouette of a man, seen over the flag of the Islamic Republic of Iran (illustrative) (photo credit: SHUTTERSTOCK)

The 27-year-old resident of Tel Aviv photographed sensitive locations, including the location of a missile impact site in Ramat Gan, investigations found.

Israel Police and Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) arrested a Tel Aviv resident on suspicion of contacting an Iranian handler and spying on behalf of Tehran, a joint statement confirmed on Monday.

The suspect, 27, contacted Iranian officials on his own initiative via a social media platform and carried out several missions in exchange for money, the investigation revealed.

As part of these missions, he photographed several sites, including the location of a missile impact site in Ramat Gan, the Tel Aviv Museum, and other locations, on the instructions of Iranian handlers.

Handlers transferred thousands of shekels worth of cryptocurrency to the suspect’s digital wallets, the statement clarified.

Authorities searched the suspect’s residence on Thursday during the arrest operation and seized 18 SIM cards, which were allegedly used to contact Iranian handlers.

The silhouette of a person, with Iran’s flag in the background (illustrative). (credit: Canva/adi arianto, Wavebreakmedia from Getty Images)

The suspect’s detention was initially extended until Monday, following the conclusion of his interrogation. A court hearing decided to release the suspect, without placing him under house arrest, Israel Police and Shin Bet noted.

In a similar incident, an indictment was filed against a 23-year-old from Tiberias for carrying out tasks for Iranian foreign agents for cash compensation, the State Attorney’s office announced on November 2.

The Southern District Attorney’s Office filed the indictment in the Beersheba District Court against Yosef Ein Eli, stating that the defendant was contacted in 2024 via Telegram and paid 12,000 shekels to carry out tasks for a foreign agent who referred to himself as “Career Path.”

Ein Eli and the foreign agent exchanged text messages before eventually losing contact. In July 2025, Ein Eli reached out to the agent again and asked to work with him, leading to months of maintaining a relationship with foreign operatives via Telegram on behalf of an Iranian intelligence agency and a terrorist organization, according to the State Attorney’s Office.

Iran claims espionage efforts located anti-regime broadcast studio in Tel Aviv

Iran’s Intelligence Ministry claimed to have found a broadcast studio belonging to London-based anti-regime outlet Iran International in Tel Aviv, Iranian media reported in October.

The ministry also claimed to have identified “a number of individuals working at, or with,” the outlet, as well as their alleged residences.

These include several Israelis of Iranian heritage or birth, including the IDF’s Persian-language spokesperson, Lt.-Col. Kamal Penhasi.

Spies also working for other terror organizations

An indictment was filed against a 14-year-old Tel Aviv resident for affiliation with al-Qaeda and Hamas, Israel Police said last week.

The minor was accused of contacting a foreign agent and passing on information to the enemy.

The suspect presented himself as a Muslim spy living in Tel Aviv and was an active member of the “Cyber and Armed Jihad Movement” group chat on the Signal messaging app.

James Genn and TPS contributed to this report.