Israel arrests Russian-Tajiki man accused of spying on behalf of Iran

Dual Russian-Tajiki national arrested in Israel after he allegedly photographed missile impact sites in Israel and surveilled an Israeli security facility.

By World Israel News Staff

Israeli security authorities recently arrested a foreign national from Tajikistan who holds a Russian passport on suspicion of carrying out security-related missions for Iranian intelligence officials, the Defense Ministry, police and the Shin Bet security agency said in a joint statement released Thursday morning.

The suspect was named as Behruz Sobirgon. According to the statement, he was arrested in June 2026 as part of a joint operation by the Erezim unit of Malmab, the Defense Ministry’s security authority, and the Shin Bet security service.

Authorities said the investigation found that Sobirgon had been in contact with an Iranian foreign agent since January 2026.

They said most of his alleged activity took place during Operation Rising Lion, when he sought to help Iran obtain operational achievements and advance its goals against Israel internationally.

The agencies said the initial contact with Sobirgon began as an apparently innocent job offer, but that he quickly understood he was dealing with an Iranian agent and nevertheless continued the relationship.

The missions he allegedly carried out included documenting and transmitting the locations of Iranian missile impacts during Operation Rising Lion, sending the location of Tel Aviv’s Azrieli Towers, photographing Port of Haifa and attempting to photograph a sensitive security facility in northern Israel.

Authorities also accused Sobirgon of actively helping recruit additional people for missions on behalf of Iranian handlers.

A prosecutor’s declaration was filed Thursday stating the prosecution’s intention to submit a serious indictment against Sobirgon and seek his detention until the end of legal proceedings in the Tel Aviv District Court. The investigation was accompanied by the Tel Aviv District Attorney’s Office.

The security agencies warned that intelligence and terror officials from enemy states are continuing efforts to recruit and activate Israeli citizens and residents for security, terrorism and espionage missions inside Israel. They said such recruitment attempts are also being made through social media approaches and seemingly innocent job offers.

“We call on the public to show vigilance and immediately report any suspicious approach or recruitment attempt by foreign elements,” the statement said.

Israel’s security bodies said they would continue working to detect and thwart terrorism and espionage activity in Israel and would seek to bring those involved to justice.