In the youngest case yet, a 13-year-old boy from Tel Aviv has been arrested in connection with spying for Iran, including being asked to photograph Israel’s Iron Dome defense system, according to Israel Police.
“During his police interrogation, it became clear that Iranian officials had recently contacted the minor, a resident of Tel Aviv, via the Telegram app, and asked him to perform several tasks in exchange for a sum of money,” a statement said on Tuesday.
The case mirrors dozens of others uncovered since the Gaza war, involving the arrests of Israelis for what the state alleges are Iranian-backed plots, some with aims to assassinate top military and political figures.
Suspects are recruited via social media, initially offered payment for seemingly innocuous tasks like spraying graffiti, then progressed to more serious activities, including intelligence gathering on the country's nuclear and defense facilities.
“The minor … sprayed graffiti in the Tel Aviv area and in return received sums of money. In addition, the minor was asked to photograph the Iron Dome system, but ultimately did not carry out this task," the police added.
He is now under house arrest.
Oded Ailam, a former head of counter-terrorism at Mossad, said that the legal system’s failings are making the deterrence strategy for Israel more challenging amid a wave of plots in the country.
“The Shin Bet does impressive work uncovering and thwarting these plots time and again. But once a case reaches the courtroom, the system falters. Weak evidence claims, outdated legal frameworks, and lenient sentencing all contribute to a breakdown in deterrence,” he wrote in a paper for the Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs.
“Today’s espionage doesn’t involve trench coats and dead drops, it happens on Facebook, paid in dollars. Yet the legal response still treats it like a relic of another era.”
In a response to Iran International, the legal team at TAERYUN Law Firm said Korean criminal law clearly applies to the case as the alleged assault occurred on South Korean soil.
“Korean criminal law applies to offenses committed within Korea, regardless of nationality or whether the crime occurred during an international competition,” the law firm said.
“No international sports event, diplomatic immunity, or any kind of honor can overshadow the pain of the victim. We will stand by the victim until the end so that she does not suffer alone.”
The suspects—two athletes and one coach from the Iranian delegation—remain in custody after being arrested at a hotel in Gumi on May 31. According to Iranian media, the athletes claimed partial consent; however, authorities rejected that defense and detained all three men.
Grave criminal case, not a diplomatic sideshow, law firm says
TAERYUN is pursuing the case under Articles 297 and 298 of South Korea’s Criminal Act (rape and forcible molestation), crimes that can carry penalties of up to life imprisonment. The firm also said that the case may qualify for aggravated charges under special provisions for sexual offenses.
“This is not a simple legal dispute but a fight to protect the victim’s life,” TAERYUN said. “We will resolutely oppose any external pressure or attempts at settlement.”
The law firm stressed that the victim is suffering from severe psychological trauma, and efforts are underway to protect her identity and mental well-being under Article 30 of the law concerning sexual crimes.
“The victim’s wishes must be fully respected and her protection must be the top priority,” TAERYUN added, warning against any attempt to repatriate the suspects.
Pressure builds in Iran
The case has generated a firestorm of controversy in Iran, where public protests and growing scrutiny of Iran’s sports leadership are prompting officials to distance themselves from the accused and call for resignations.
Earlier in the month, Ahmad Rastineh, spokesman for the Iranian parliament’s Cultural Committee, confirmed that the Minister of Sport, Ahmad Donyamali, had been summoned to explain the incident.
“It was decided that an urgent report on the incident and the violations that occurred be submitted to the Cultural Committee,” Rastineh said.
He added that preliminary investigations revealed mismanagement by team supervisors and that disciplinary action would include suspending the head of the delegation’s security, as well as the team’s head coach and supervisor, until the case is resolved.
Meanwhile, Rouhollah Lak-Aliabadi, spokesman for the Parliament’s Sports Faction, told protesters gathered outside the Iranian parliament that key officials must resign in the wake of the scandal.
“Those responsible must be held accountable. They must resign,” Lak-Aliabadi said in a widely shared video, responding to family members of Iranian athletes demanding the dismissal of senior sports officials.
He criticized public remarks downplaying the seriousness of the incident and rebuked former national football coach Mohammad Mayelikohan’s comment that “this happens in other countries too,” saying: “It may be ordinary elsewhere, but it is not normal for Iran, and we will take this very seriously.”
Allegations against federation president resurface
The scandal has reignited long-standing accusations against Ehsan Haddadi, president of Iran’s Athletics Federation. Haddadi, a former Olympic medalist, has faced past allegations, including an unresolved claim of sexual assault.
Protesters outside the parliament accused Hadadi of failing to oversee athlete conduct and accused him of traveling with personal guests while delegating responsibility.
One woman at the demonstration told lawmakers:“I have a young daughter. Yet a bachelor who has an open sexual assault case, was made a federation director. On his first trip with the national team, he abandoned athletes and brought a personal guest.”
Multiple rallies have been held by members of Iran’s track and field community, with thousands signing petitions calling for Haddadi’s removal, citing both the latest incident and past misconduct allegations.