Haifa man indicted on charges of espionage for Iran, revealing sensitive information during war

An Israeli man faces charges of espionage for Iran, accused of transferring sensitive intelligence during the recent Israeli-US war. The 44-year-old Haifa resident, Raanan Ben Haim Ohana, allegedly conducted missions for an Iranian agent, impacting state security.

According to police reports, Ohana transferred intelligence from January to March 2025. His alleged activities included providing details on security weaknesses at ports and methods for smuggling weapons into Israel. He also reportedly photographed sensitive sites, including the Haifa waterfront and American warships.

Ohana was arrested in May and is accused of receiving approximately NIS 2,500 in cryptocurrency payments for his services. This indictment is part of a larger pattern, as Israeli authorities have arrested and charged several citizens with spying for Iran since the war began in March. The head of the security division at the Israel Police’s Lahav 433 unit noted that this is the 20th such case handled by his unit and the Shin Bet in the past year.