Iran Alleges Access to Israeli Nuclear Documents in Covert Intelligence Operation

Earlier today, Iranian state television and the pro-Iranian outlet Al-Mayadeen reported that Iran’s intelligence services secured a vast collection of “strategic and sensitive” Israeli documents, including thousands allegedly tied to Israel’s nuclear projects and facilities. “Iranian intelligence services have obtained a large quantity of strategic and sensitive information and documents belonging to the Zionist regime, including thousands of documents related to the regime’s nuclear projects and installations,” the state broadcaster claimed. The operation, described as covert and conducted some time ago, involved smuggling a “vast volume of materials including documents, images, and videos” to Iran, with media silence maintained to ensure secure transfer due to the sheer quantity of data.

Iranian media linked the operation to Roy Mizrahi and Almog Atias, two 25-year-old Israelis from Nesher arrested in May 2025 for suspected espionage on behalf of Iran. The pair, indicted for tasks like installing spy cameras near Defense Minister Israel Katz’s home in Kfar Ahim, allegedly acted under Iranian direction, motivated by financial debts. No evidence substantiates Iran’s claims of obtaining nuclear documents, and Israeli authorities have not commented, leaving the assertions unverified. Dr. Raz Zimmt, an Iran expert at Tel Aviv University’s Institute for National Security Studies, suggested a possible link to a 2024 Iranian hacking attempt on Israel’s Atomic Energy Commission, which was deemed non-severe. “In mid-2024, reports emerged that Iranian hackers had accessed a server belonging to the Atomic Energy Commission and extracted data from 2014 to 2023,” Zimmt noted.

Zimmt also contextualized Iran’s timing, pointing to upcoming International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) meetings where Iran faces scrutiny for its 60% enriched uranium stockpile. “It is no coincidence that on the eve of the meeting, Tehran is attempting to shift the spotlight toward Israel’s nuclear program,” he said, doubting the effort’s success. Iran’s claims follow a pattern of escalating espionage, with 20 Israeli spy plots thwarted since October 2023, reflecting Tehran’s intensified efforts to undermine Israeli security amid ongoing regional tensions.