Israeli authorities arrested a Russian citizen working in Israel on suspicion of carrying out espionage tasks for Iranian intelligence, including photographing ships and infrastructure at Israeli ports, Israeli media reported on Friday.
The Shin Bet internal security service and the Defense Ministry’s security directorate detained the suspect, Vitaly Zvyagintsev, 30, in early December following an undercover investigation, according to a joint statement cited by Ynet.
Zvyagintsev, a foreign worker living in Israel, was in contact with an Iranian intelligence handler who presented himself as a Russian named Roman and directed him to carry out surveillance missions across the country from October, Ynet reported.
He allegedly sent photographs of sensitive infrastructure and vessels at several Israeli ports and received payment in cryptocurrency, the report said.
Israeli security officials said Zvyagintsev understood the requests were linked to efforts to harm Israel but continued for financial reasons.
“This is a serious case that reflects the continued efforts by Iranian intelligence bodies to recruit Israeli citizens and foreign nationals for espionage and terror-related missions,” the security agencies said in the statement cited by Ynet.
Prosecutors filed an indictment on Friday at the Central District Court, charging Zvyagintsev with serious national security offenses, Israeli officials said.
The arrest comes amid a series of recent cases in which Israeli authorities have accused individuals of passing information to Iran, often in exchange for digital payments, Israeli media said.
Israeli security agencies say Iran has stepped up recruitment efforts through social media, targeting both Israeli citizens and foreign residents, as tensions between the two longtime adversaries remain high.
