Charges filed against IDF reservist and associate suspected of spying for Iran

Prosecutors file charges against an IDF reservist and his associate, accusing them of spying for Iran over the course of months.

Maor Kringel, 27, allegedly carried out espionage missions for Iranian agents starting in mid-2024 until his August arrest and later recruited the second defendant, Tal Amram, for the same purpose.

Kringel was on reserve duty for part of this time. At one point, his handler suggested he assassinate his commanding officer in return for NIS 100,000 ($30,000), but the accused did not follow through, the indictment notes.

The reservist nevertheless exploited his soldier status to share army base locations with his handlers. He also took photos of the Shin Bet headquarters and passed them along to the Iranian agents, prosecutors say.

When off-duty, Kringel passed along documentation of ports, shops, malls, private homes, public spaces, municipal and government buildings to the agents at their behest, the indictment continues.

In January, Kringel ramped up his espionage activities and recruited 26-year-old Tal Amram, putting him in contact with Iranian agents. The pair, who are both residents of Holon, allegedly burned IDF uniforms together in a grove in the city.

Kringel is charged with aiding an enemy during wartime, 26 counts of sharing intelligence that could assist the enemy and 12 counts of sharing intelligence with the enemy with the intent to harm national security.

Amram, who is not known to have gathered intelligence on Iran’s behalf, is charged with maintaining contact with a foreign agent.

The two are indicted in the Tel Aviv District Court and prosecutors request they remain in detention until the end of legal proceedings.