Israeli security authorities announced on Thursday the arrest of an Israeli-American national residing in Morocco, on suspicion of espionage for Iran. The man, identified as Y.P., 49, was detained upon his arrival in Israel, allegedly with the intent to «carry out missions to gather information on public figures», according to Europa Press. Police said the man is suspected of «committing several security-related offenses involving contact with Iranian operatives and carrying out tasks under their supervision». Investigators noted that in 2017 he had contacted the Iranian embassy in Rabat to seek asylum for himself and his family. Later, in 2023, he began «publishing articles against Israel and Zionism» after joining Iranian-linked websites on Telegram. Authorities added that «following the publication of a supportive article in January 2025, after the funeral of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, killed in an Israeli raid on Beirut in September 2024, an Iranian official contacted him and offered cooperation, to which he agreed». The suspect allegedly attempted on several occasions to recruit others in Israel and abroad to gather intelligence for Iran. When these efforts failed, police said, he agreed to travel personally to Israel under the supervision of Iranian agents. For this purpose, he renewed his Israeli passport and entered the country in July 2025. «Shortly after his arrival, he began carrying out security tasks under Iranian guidance, relaying information on Israeli citizens and public figures, including former Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir», police said. As part of his activities, the man reportedly took photos and videos of streets and sites across Israel. Authorities confirmed that he received cryptocurrency payments for his work and stressed that he acted «fully aware he was working for Iranian intelligence and that his activities could harm state security, driven by his conviction of the need to take action against Israel and Zionism».
