ALBAWABA - Israel's internal security service, the Shin Bet, revealed on Friday that a Russian national employed within the country faces espionage charges. The individual is accused of conducting surveillance operations on Israeli ports and vital infrastructure, allegedly on behalf of Iran.
Israel's public broadcaster reported that the suspect, a 30-year-old named Vitaly Zvyagintsev, was taken into custody in early December. This followed an investigation that revealed his communications with an Iranian intelligence officer, who was using the alias Roman.
Covert operations disguised as "tourism" are a common tactic.
The inquiry revealed that Zvyagintsev had been in consistent communication with Roman since October 2025, a man who purportedly lived in Russia. Under his leadership, Zvyagintsev reportedly masqueraded as a tourist, snapping pictures of key locations and ships in various Israeli ports. Officials report that he was compensated with digital payments for every task he finished.
Shin Bet officials reported that Zvyagintsev was aware his actions benefited "hostile elements intent on damaging Israel," but he persisted in his work, motivated by financial reward.
A component of a larger Iranian recruitment initiative.
Israeli officials characterized the situation as another illustration of Iran's ongoing attempts to enlist both Israelis and foreigners for espionage purposes. The district court received a "severe indictment," as the state prosecution described it, against Zvyagintsev.
The news comes on the heels of a separate espionage incident from November. Back then, Israeli police revealed they'd detained a citizen. This individual was suspected of collecting sensitive data about the Air Force, allegedly for Iranian agents, and reportedly with assistance from a reservist. In recent years, the Shin Bet has made numerous arrests linked to Iranian intelligence operations.
The background of increasing hostility.
The most recent incident unfolds against a backdrop of escalating friction between Israel and Iran. In June, Israel, with U.S. support, launched a twelve-day offensive. The targets were Iranian military, nuclear, and civilian sites. Tehran reported that the assaults resulted in the deaths of 606 individuals and left over 5,300 injured.
The two nations remain locked in a rivalry, each seeing the other as its main strategic opponent. This animosity occasionally flares into confrontations that spill over into military, cyber, and intelligence operations.
