Two Israeli Teens Charged with Spying for Iran

The Haifa District Prosecutor's Office has filed indictments against two teenagers, aged 14 and 16, from Kiryat Motzkin, who allegedly carried out missions for an Iranian operative in exchange for payment. The charges include vandalism, with one teen also facing charges of contact with a foreign agent and providing information to the enemy. The second teen is accused of aiding contact with a foreign agent.

The investigation began when one of the suspects was arrested at Ben Gurion Airport upon returning to Israel. He had reportedly been in contact with an Iranian agent via Telegram while seeking employment. According to the indictment, in June 2026, he was approached by an individual claiming to be 'Daniel,' who offered payment for tasks. He later involved his friend, and both allegedly suspected the contact was an Iranian agent, receiving confirmation when they inquired.

During their alleged involvement, the teens carried out various tasks, including spraying graffiti, photographing sites across Israel, and attempting to recruit other youths. One teen was tasked with photographing shopping malls in the Herzliya and Tel Aviv areas, providing details on entrances, exits, and security personnel. He reportedly deleted videos after sending them, fearing their use for an attack.

Further allegations include one teen impersonating a soldier from Unit 8200 on Telegram to secure more missions and attempting to establish a new Telegram channel at the agent's request to recruit more individuals. The teens received hundreds of shekels, partly in cryptocurrency, for their services.

The police stated they would "act with all determination and all available tools, overt and covert, against any attempt by enemy states and hostile elements to recruit Israeli citizens, especially minors, exploiting them to harm the country's security." They urged parents to be vigilant about their children's online activities.