7 Israelis charged with spying for Iran allegedly carried out 600 missions collecting intel on bases, sensitive sites, individuals

Seven Jewish Israeli citizens are charged after they were arrested last month on suspicion of spying for Iran for as long as two years, carrying out some 600 at the behest of the Islamic Republic.

The seven are accused of the security offenses of aiding the enemy during wartime, and providing information to the enemy.

The suspects, all residents of Haifa and the north, include a soldier who deserted the military, as well as two unnamed minors aged 16-17.

Prosecutors say Azis Nisanov was recruited by Iran as the head of the spy ring, with his deputy Alexander Sadykov managing the other agents.

The third defendant is an unnamed minor who was the main agent for tasks involving photography and sending images to the Iranian contacts, and the fourth was a second minor who was engaged in photography tasks, sending content, and receiving money from an Iranian agent.

Vyacheslav Gushchin, Yevgeny Yoffe and Yigal Nissan are named by prosecutors as the final three defendants.

If caught, Nisanov had created a cover story in which the spies were tour guides, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors say the suspects collected information on sensitive sites in Israel, military bases and human targets.

The defendants carried out hundreds of missions to photograph air bases at Nevatim, Ramat David, Tel Nof and Palmachim, as well as bases in Beer Tuvia, Kiryat Gat, Emek Hefer and the Glilot complex north of Tel Aviv.

In addition, the defendants photographed the Iron Dome missile defense systems in the Haifa area, government buildings in Haifa, the ports of Haifa, Ashdod and Eilat, the Hadera power plant, and the IDF observation balloon in the Golani Junction area.

The Iranian operators also sent one of the suspects information on military bases and strategic sites, for the purpose of carrying out future photography missions, including the dining hall of the Golani training base targeted in a drone attack earlier this month, and a site belonging to the Rafael defense firm.

Prosecutors say the suspects were also sent to photograph the Nevatim air base on April 14, the day after Iran’s ballistic missile and drone attack.

Additionally, Nisanov was asked to find details on the car, relatives and schedule of an expert in gas engineering at the University of Haifa who had lectured on Iran.

The suspects received payment and reimbursement of expenses that ranged from $500 to $1,200 per task.

The total payment received by the spy ring was $300,000, divided between the members.