7 Israelis charged with spying for Iran allegedly carried out 600 missions for $300K

The seven Israelis charged with spying for Iran were collectively paid $300,000 to carry out more than 600 missions to collect intel from Israeli military bases and other sensitive sites, officials said.The seven suspects, which include an IDF deserter and two teenagers, were arrested last month for aiding the enemy during wartime and providing information to the enemy in a major Israeli security breach.“This is one of the most severe cases of security offenses that have been uncovered in the State of Israel, and which was carried out by Israeli citizens who knew well that they were acting against the country’s security and for Iran, at a time when Israel was engaged in a tough war on several fronts,” a Justice Ministry spokesperson said in a statement.The suspects are all from the northern city of Haifa and are believed to have been providing Tehran with military intelligence for as long as two years, prosecutors allege in a 20-page indictment obtained by The Times of Israel.Azis Nisanov, 43, was recruited by Iran to lead the spy ring in late 2022 when he was contacted by a foreign agent.He agreed to begin relaying photos and information in exchange for money due to financial hardships, prosecutors said.He tapped Alexander Sadykov, 58, to be his deputy and manage the other agents, Israeli prosecutors said.Nisanov’s son, Yigal Nissan, a 20-year-old former enlisted soldier, was also recruited to assist in the ring.

Nisan was declared AWOL on December 4, 2023.Sadykov’s pals Vyacheslav Gushchin, 46, and Yevgeny Yoffe, 47, as well as a 16- and 17-year-old were also involved, officials said.In exchange for the intel, suspects received payment and reimbursement of equipment expenses that ranged from $500 to $1,200 per task.After hundreds of missions, the ring was paid out $300,000 by Iranian agents.“Our assessment is that the activities of this ring caused damage to the security of Israel,” a Shin Bet official said on Monday.Spying operations continued thr...