Overview
- Israeli police and the Shin Bet arrested a 20-year-old U.S. citizen living in Jerusalem on June 9 on suspicion of working for handlers linked to Iranian intelligence.
- Investigators say he photographed and documented sensitive Israeli sites over several months in exchange for payments reportedly ranging from tens to hundreds of dollars per assignment.
- The joint Israel Police–Shin Bet investigation concluded and prosecutors filed a prosecutor's declaration on June 30 with an indictment and a request to keep the suspect in custody expected in the coming days.
- Authorities say the arrest followed information from international security partners and was carried out by the Jerusalem District Police's Major Crimes Unit together with Shin Bet.
- Israeli officials place the case in a broader trend of Iran-linked activity, noting 25 Iran-related indictments in 2025 and about 120 suspected operations disrupted that year, while the suspect's identity remains withheld and the allegations are not yet tested in court.