Israeli authorities announced Thursday they had thwarted an alleged Iranian plot to assassinate high-ranking officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other top government leaders.
According to a joint statement from Israeli police and the Shin Bet intelligence agency, 73-year-old Israeli businessman Moti Maman from Ashkelon is accused of twice traveling to Iran via Turkey to meet with intelligence officials directing potential assassination plots from Tehran.
The alleged targets included Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar, and former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, among others. Authorities claim these plots were intended as retaliation for the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran in July, which Iran blamed on Israel.
Police say Maman allegedly met with Iranian contacts, including a businessman known only as Eddie and an intelligence agent identified as Hajjah. The suspect is accused of traveling to Iran in May and August 2024, with his second entry reportedly involving being smuggled across the Turkey-Iran border “hidden inside a truck cabin.”
The statement alleges that Maman demanded a $1 million advance payment for his services, which the Iranian agents declined, stating they would contact him in the future. Authorities claim Maman received approximately $558,000 in euros for attending meetings with Iranian intelligence personnel.
Maman was indicted on September 19 on charges related to the alleged plot. He is also accused of discussing the possibility of acting as a money courier, locating targets for assassination in Europe and the U.S., and attempting to recruit a Mossad “double agent.”
A senior Shin Bet official described the case as “very serious,” warning that Iran is likely to continue efforts to recruit operatives in Israel for intelligence gathering and terrorist missions, potentially targeting individuals with criminal backgrounds.
This alleged plot highlights ongoing tensions between Israel and Iran, as well as the complex nature of international espionage and counter-intelligence operations in the Middle East.
