Israeli security services have arrested a citizen suspected of involvement in an Iranian-backed plot to assassinate Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other senior officials.
According to Israeli police and domestic intelligence, the suspect, a businessman with ties to Turkey, had been smuggled into Iran on two occasions, where he received payments to carry out various missions.
In a joint statement, authorities revealed that the suspect had lived in Turkey and was aided by Turkish contacts in his covert travels to Iran. The individual was arrested last month, with his targets reportedly including the prime minister, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and Shin Bet (Israel’s internal security agency) chief Ronen Bar.
The suspect is said to have met with an Iranian businessman, referred to as Eddie, in Turkey and later in Iran. During these encounters, Iranian intelligence agents allegedly tasked him with conducting terrorist activities in Israel, including assassinating top officials such as Netanyahu. The plot is also believed to be in retaliation for the death of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, killed in Iran earlier this year, an event for which Iran holds Israel responsible.
The investigation further uncovered discussions about killing other public figures, as well as opponents of the Iranian regime based in Europe and the U.S. There were also talks of recruiting a Mossad agent as a double agent. The suspect reportedly received €5,000 for his involvement and had demanded an advance payment of $1 million to proceed with the assassination plots.
A senior Shin Bet official remarked that the case highlights the extensive efforts by Iranian intelligence to recruit Israeli citizens for terrorist operations within Israel. Relations between Israel and Iran have been hostile since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, with Iran backing Israeli adversaries such as Hamas and Hezbollah.
Tensions between the two nations have further escalated amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza, resulting in direct and indirect attacks on both sides.
