Israeli security services have uncovered another alleged Iranian intelligence operation inside Israel, accusing a Tajik national with a Russian passport of carrying out wartime missions for Tehran from inside the country. The suspect, identified as Behrouz Sobrigon, was arrested in June in a joint Shin Bet, Israel Police and Defense Ministry security operation. Prosecutors have now filed a declaration ahead of a serious indictment and a request to keep him in custody until the end of proceedings.

According to Israeli authorities, Sobrigon had been in contact with a foreign Iranian handler since January. Investigators say the approach began as what looked like an innocent job offer, but that he quickly understood he was dealing with an Iranian agent and continued anyway. His main activity allegedly took place during Israel’s war with Iran, when security officials say he sought to help Tehran gain operational advantages and advance its campaign against Israel internationally.

Authorities say Sobrigon documented and transferred locations of Iranian missile impact sites, sent map coordinates for Tel Aviv’s Azrieli Towers, photographed Haifa Port and tried to photograph a sensitive security facility in northern Israel. He is also accused of actively helping recruit additional people for Iranian-directed missions, though officials have not publicly identified those people or said whether more arrests are expected in this specific case.

Iran was allegedly not only firing missiles at Israel from outside the country, but trying to buy eyes inside Israel to help assess damage, map strategic and civilian landmarks, and build a local network for further collection. Missile impact locations can reveal what hit, what missed and what should be adjusted next. Photos of ports, towers and sensitive facilities can feed targeting files, propaganda, psychological warfare and future operational planning.

The case also fits a broader pattern Israeli security officials have been warning about, Iranian handlers approaching people through social media, messaging platforms or fake work offers, starting with “simple” paid tasks and escalating toward more sensitive surveillance. Just this week, Israeli authorities announced a separate case involving an American citizen in his 20s suspected of photographing sensitive sites for Iranian intelligence in exchange for payments ranging from tens to hundreds of dollars per assignment.

The Shin Bet said in its 2025 annual summary that 25 Israelis and foreign residents were indicted in Iran-related espionage cases that year, while 120 suspected Iranian espionage incidents were thwarted. Separately, Israeli media reported earlier this year that police were forming a dedicated unit under Lahav 433 to handle the growing wave of Iran spying cases, after more than 50 suspected spies were arrested in roughly 38 public cases over the previous two years.