Israel arrests US citizen on suspicion of spying for Iran

JERUSALEM — Israeli police have detained a 20-year-old U.S. citizen living in Israel on suspicion of conducting espionage for Iranian intelligence, the police said. The arrest was carried out earlier this month in a joint operation with the Israel Security Agency. According to investigators, the suspect contacted an Iranian journalist and photographed sensitive areas, receiving tens to hundreds of dollars per task. The individual has not been publicly identified and is being questioned on charges of contacting a foreign agent and endangering state security. Amihay Benta, a senior official in the Israeli police investigation unit, told Yedioth Ahronot that numerous individuals had been identified in recent months for spying on behalf of Iran, some during wartime. The newspaper reported that Israel has detained dozens of people on suspicion of espionage for Iran over the past two years, including soldiers. Israel and the United States launched a war against Iran in late February. A temporary ceasefire was announced in April.