Haifa Man Suspected of Spying for Iran After Allegedly Photographing Sensitive Sites

MSgt. Azen Abramov, an investigator with the central unit in the Menashe region (Photo: Police Spokesperson)

Israel’s Shin Bet security service and police announced today (Tuesday) that they arrested an Israeli citizen from Haifa suspected of carrying out security-related assignments for Iranian intelligence operatives. A prosecutor’s declaration was filed against him this morning, and an indictment is expected to be submitted in the coming days to the Haifa District Court.

The suspect, 44-year-old Ra’anan Ohana of Haifa, was arrested during May 2026 as part of a joint operation by the Shin Bet and the central unit in the Menashe region of the Israel Police. According to the suspicion, he was in contact with Iranian intelligence operatives and carried out a series of assignments for them of a security nature.

The joint investigation found that in recent months, Ohana had been in contact with individuals who approached him under business cover. As part of that connection, according to the investigation’s findings, he carried out several assignments between January and March 2026 at the direction of his handlers, and received payment for them in digital currency.

Security officials said that some of the assignments included photographing sensitive areas. The investigation also found that the activity took place during the "Roar of the Lion" war. According to the joint statement from the Shin Bet and police, Ohana continued carrying out the assignments "despite understanding that this was an Iranian foreign agent.”

This investigation joins a series of other recent investigations in which attempts by Iranian intelligence operatives to recruit Israeli citizens for various assignments have been uncovered. According to the security agencies, those operatives have recently stepped up their efforts and are trying to contact Israelis through different platforms, בעיקר on social media.

In the joint statement, the Shin Bet and police said that "Iranian intelligence operatives are acting with increased intensity to promote direct outreach to citizens of the State of Israel, including on social media, under the pretense of job offers".

The security agencies further stressed that they "again warn the citizens and residents of the State of Israel against maintaining contact with foreign actors from enemy states and/or any unidentified party, and certainly against carrying out assignments for them in exchange for payment or for any other reason".