An Israeli national has been arrested on charges of involvement in an alleged Iranian plot to assassinate Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other high-ranking officials, according to Israel’s security services. The suspect, a businessman with connections in Turkey, was apprehended last month after being smuggled into Iran twice.
According to a joint statement from Israeli police and domestic intelligence, the suspect was tasked with various missions for the Iranian regime, including photographing Israeli sites and threatening Israeli citizens. He reportedly met with Iranian operatives and was involved in discussions about potential terrorist activities, including the assassination of top Israeli figures such as Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar.
The investigation revealed that the suspect demanded $1 million in advance payment for his services, though he received only 5,000 euros for his meetings. Additionally, the plot included plans to target Iranian regime opponents in Europe and the US, and to recruit a Mossad operative as a double agent.
This arrest comes amid heightened tensions between Iran and Israel, who have been adversaries since the 1979 Islamic revolution in Iran. Recent hostilities have been exacerbated by the ongoing conflict in Gaza and direct or indirect attacks between the two nations.
