Iran claims it holds trove of secret Israeli documents

On June 8, Iran's Minister of Intelligence, Esmail Khatib, told state television that Iranian intelligence agencies had acquired a significant collection of Israeli documents, which he described as a “treasure trove” that would bolster the country’s offensive capabilities.

The documents are said to contain information related to Israel’s nuclear infrastructure, its international diplomatic relations, including with the United States and Europe, as well as its defence systems, Caliber.Az reports, citing the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

The claim follows a report by Iranian state media on Saturday announcing the acquisition.

There has been no immediate response from Israeli officials. It remains unclear whether the breach is connected to a cyberattack reportedly targeting an Israeli nuclear research centre last year. Tehran appears to be disclosing the incident only now, against the backdrop of rising regional tensions and Western concerns over its nuclear ambitions.

“The transfer of this treasure trove was time-consuming and required extensive security measures,” Khatib said, adding that the methods used to obtain and transport the documents would remain classified. “Talking of thousands of documents would be an understatement,” he claimed.

In 2018, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu revealed that Mossad agents had retrieved what he described as a vast archive of Iranian nuclear documents, which he argued proved Iran had conducted more advanced nuclear research than previously admitted.

Meanwhile, former US President Donald Trump has reportedly warned Iran of potential military action should it fail to reach a nuclear agreement with Washington. In April, however, Trump is said to have blocked an Israeli plan to strike Iranian nuclear sites, preferring to pursue diplomatic engagement with Tehran.

Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, dismissed a key US demand in the ongoing talks last week, declaring that halting uranium enrichment would go “100% against” the country’s national interests.

Western governments continue to express concern that Iran is enriching uranium to levels approaching weapons-grade purity, though Tehran insists its nuclear programme remains entirely peaceful.

By Aghakazim Guliyev