Summary
- A 21-year-old American was charged in Israel with espionage—the first instance involving a U.S. national in a wave of Iranian espionage cases.
- Prosecutors allege Eli Lavon was recruited through Telegram, filmed sensitive locations, left hidden messages for Iranian contacts, and received payment in cryptocurrency.
- Lavon is facing charges related to engaging with a foreign agent and sharing information beneficial to an enemy; his attorney contests the claim that his actions constitute espionage.
A U.S. citizen enrolled at a strict Orthodox seminary in Jerusalem has been charged with espionage, marking the first prosecution of an American amid an increasing crackdown on individuals allegedly recruited to spy for Iran.
Eli Lavon, aged 21, was officially charged on Friday with two counts of contact with a foreign agent and 14 counts of providing information that could assist an enemy, as detailed in an indictment from the State Attorney's Office, according to CNN.
The prosecution claims that the investigation began in November 2025 when Lavon, while visiting family in the U.S., answered a job advertisement on the Telegram app. Shortly after, as he traveled back to Israel, an individual purporting to be from Iranian intelligence reached out and instructed him to perform surveillance tasks, according to the indictment.
These tasks reportedly included filming an abandoned structure in a religious area of Jerusalem and capturing footage inside a grocery store. In one incident, prosecutors allege Lavon was instructed to hide a cigarette pack containing a note stating, "The job is complete," in a trash can at a mall in Jerusalem.
He allegedly received cryptocurrency payments for the information he provided, using two Telegram accounts and three different phones, as per the charges.
After severing ties with that contact, prosecutors assert Lavon began communicating with another handler linked to Iran, concealing a flash drive wrapped in cash at a restaurant and sending a photo of his passport. This handler asked him for the names of his fellow students, which Lavon reportedly refused to share. The indictment states that Lavon's total earnings from both handlers amounted to approximately $1,379.
Ronit Shentzer Yaakobi from the Jerusalem District Attorney’s Office commented, “This indictment illustrates how foreign intelligence agencies attempt to exploit the digital sphere to identify, recruit, and operate individuals from within Israel, and how crucial it is to remain vigilant and promptly cut off contact when approached in this manner.”
Lavon's attorney, Raz Bar Tzvi, stated to CNN that merely being contacted online by a foreign entity does not constitute espionage and argued that the details in the indictment do not substantiate the charges. He did not disclose Lavon's intended plea.
Since 2023, Israel has charged approximately 60 individuals with espionage related to Iran; officials indicate that several locations allegedly monitored by these recruits were later targeted in Iranian missile strikes.