Iranian Espionage: Israeli Man Arrested for Cryptocurrency-Paid Missions

Israeli authorities have apprehended a 27-year-old man from Tel Aviv on espionage charges, accused of completing intelligence tasks for Iranian operatives in exchange for cryptocurrency payments. The suspect allegedly carried out various missions, including photographing sensitive locations and spray-painting politically motivated graffiti. The Israel Security Agency and Tel Aviv District Police issued a joint statement warning citizens and residents to avoid engaging with foreign actors or carrying out missions on their behalf.

The arrests come amid heightened tensions between Israel and Iran, with cyberattacks linked to the conflict intensifying. The suspect, identified as Or Beilin, was brought before the Tel Aviv Magistrate's Court, which extended his detention to June 26 pending further investigation. Authorities seized computers and digital storage devices suspected of being used for communication with Iranian handlers.

Beilin is not the only individual arrested in recent weeks. Another Israeli citizen, Dmitry Cohen, 28, from Haifa, was arrested in late May on similar charges. Cohen was allegedly recruited through a job-search website popular among Russian-speaking immigrants and tasked with transferring sensitive footage of IDF bases, strategic facilities, and the private residences of senior Israeli officials. He received $500 in bitcoin for each mission, accumulating thousands of dollars in cryptocurrency. Cohen admitted during his interrogation that he suspected the assignments were for espionage but continued due to greed. His girlfriend and a friend, who were briefly detained and later released, were also involved in some of the tasks.

Cohen's case is part of a broader pattern of Iranian espionage attempts in Israel. Another recent incident involved Roy Mizrahi and Almog Atias, both 25 and from northern Israel, who were arrested for planting surveillance cameras and transporting objects at the request of Iranian operatives. One of the camera locations was in Kfar Achim, the hometown of Defense Minister Israel Katz, raising concerns about potential assassination attempts.

In a separate case, a 27-year-old Tel Aviv resident was arrested on suspicion of working on behalf of a hostile Iranian operative. The suspect had maintained contact with the Iranian handler for several months and carried out tasks including photographing homes of public officials, military bases, and spraying graffiti, all in exchange for thousands of dollars paid in cryptocurrency. Police detectives raided the suspect’s home, seizing computers and digital media allegedly used to communicate with the Iranian contact.

The arrests highlight a growing trend of Iranian intelligence and terrorist elements attempting to recruit Israeli citizens through social media and job-search websites. Authorities warn that these incidents may represent only a fraction of a wider Iranian effort to identify targets for missile strikes and other attacks. The suspects may face serious charges, including espionage during wartime, a crime that can carry the death penalty under Israeli law. Security officials urge the public to avoid any contact with foreign operatives and to report any suspicious activities.