Israeli security services foil suspected Iranian spy network near Jerusalem

Israel’s internal security agency, the Shin Bet, detained two Israeli nationals in January 2026 on suspicion of spying for Iran, according to Israeli media reports.

The suspects, both around 20 years old, live in the Jerusalem area and are accused of crimes threatening national security connected to their contacts with Iranian intelligence organisations.

According to the findings of the investigation, the two young men had been communicating with Iranian intelligence operatives over recent months and, in return for financial payments, carried out assignments of an intelligence nature.

In an official statement, Israel’s police emphasised that both the Israel Police and the Shin Bet consistently caution citizens and residents against engaging with foreign entities or performing tasks on their behalf.

The authorities stressed that such actions represent a serious breach of the law and pose a direct threat to the country’s security.

By Tamilla Hasanova