Two Teenagers Charged with Espionage for Iranian Agent

Prosecutors in Israel have indicted two minors, aged 14 and 16, from Kiryat Motzkin for carrying out tasks for a foreign agent operating on behalf of Iran in exchange for payment. The indictment alleges that the two continued some of their activities even after suspecting, and later knowing, that the contact was an Iranian agent.

The relationship began in June 2026 when one of the minors sought work via a Telegram group. An individual posing as 'Daniel' contacted him, offering payment for tasks that initially seemed innocent, such as distributing flyers. The tasks escalated to requiring photographic identification, and eventually, the second minor joined in.

According to the indictment, one of the teenagers was instructed to photograph various locations in Israel, including malls in Herzliya and Tel Aviv. In one instance, he provided the agent with details about the number of entrances and exits at a mall, as well as the number of security guards present. Fearing the information could be used for an attack, he deleted the videos after this task, but the contact persisted.

Both minors are also accused of spraying graffiti in the Kiryat Motzkin area and sending documentation of the graffiti to the agent. The indictment details that one of the minors questioned the agent about his Iranian affiliation, to which the agent admitted a connection to Iran, yet the collaboration continued.

Prosecutors claim the teenagers attempted to expand their activities. One minor impersonated a soldier from Unit 8200 on Telegram to solicit more tasks. Following the agent's request to recruit others, one minor created a Telegram channel, inviting other minors for 'high-risk' missions. The two received hundreds of shekels, partly in cryptocurrency, for their services.

The investigation, a joint effort by the Asher District Crime Unit, the 'Barak' unit of Lahav 433, and security agencies, began with the arrest of one minor at Ben Gurion Airport on suspicion of espionage. The charges include contact with a foreign agent, providing information for the benefit of the enemy, and property desecration. The police stated they would act against any attempts by hostile entities to recruit Israeli citizens, especially minors, for activities detrimental to national security, urging parents to monitor their children's online activities.