Spy drama meets real-life espionage on the set of TV hit 'Tehran'

Israeli drama “Tehran,” currently in its second season on Apple TV, has the feel of a ripped-from-the-headlines show, with a storyline that closely follows the news.

As it turns out, the spy drama made Iranian intelligence suspicious as well, according to show creator Moshe Zonder.

Zonder, speaking to Army Radio show host Yaron Zelensky, said the producers suspected that Iranian spies were on the “Tehran” set in Athens during filming of the first season.

“Now we know,” said Zonder. “It was during the case of four Jewish women of Iranian descent, who were recruited by an Iranian spy claiming to be Jewish, and he sent one of the women to audition for the series.”

The woman didn’t pass the audition, said Zonder in the interview, which aired last week.

“They know about the show, and they look at us and pay attention,” he said of the Iranians.

Iranian-born viewers don’t always believe the show is filmed in Athens, either, said Zonder. He’s often questioned by Israelis of Iranian descent about where they filmed, he said, telling him that they recognize a certain street or neighborhood.

“They tell me, ‘I grew up there!'” said Zonder.