Summary: A 44-year-old Haifa resident, Raanan Ben Haim Ohana, has been indicted for allegedly passing sensitive information to actors linked to Iran between January and March 2025, including during the Israeli–US conflict. Authorities claim he provided details on port security vulnerabilities and photographs of sensitive sites such as the Haifa waterfront and American warships. Investigators say he received roughly NIS 2,500 in cryptocurrency. The arrest is part of a broader series of espionage probes handled by Lahav 433 and the Shin Bet over the past year.
Haifa Man Indicted for Alleged Espionage for Iran — Accused of Sharing Port-Security Details and Photos During Israeli–US Conflict
An illustrative photo of a laptop displaying the Iranian flag, representing Iran in a digital or cyber context, March 27, 2026. (photo credit: NATI SHOHAT/FLASH90)
An indictment was filed this week against Raanan Ben Haim Ohana, a 44-year-old resident of Haifa, accusing him of contacting a foreign agent and transferring sensitive information to actors linked to Iran.
According to the indictment, Ohana carried out a series of alleged missions for an Iranian agent between January and March 2025 — a period that included the recent Israeli–US conflict with Iran. Authorities say some of the information he provided had direct implications for state security amid Israeli operations targeting Iran.
Ohana was arrested in May on suspicion of collaborating with an Iranian intelligence operative over several months. Police reports state that the transfers of intelligence occurred from January through March 2025 and included material passed while the conflict was underway in March.
The silhouette of a person, with Iran's flag in the background (illustrative). (credit: Canva/adi arianto, Wavebreakmedia from Getty Images)
Prosecutors allege Ohana supplied detailed descriptions of weaknesses in port security procedures and outlined methods by which weapons could be smuggled into Israel. Investigators also say he provided photographs of sensitive locations, including the Haifa waterfront and American warships docked in the area.
Authorities report that Ohana received cryptocurrency payments for his alleged activities, totaling approximately NIS 2,500.
Broader Context
Officials say the indictment is part of a wider wave of espionage investigations since the outbreak of hostilities in March. Superintendent Maor Goren, head of the security division at the Israel Police’s Lahav 433 major crimes unit, told KAN Bet that the mid-May arrests of Roi Mizrahi and Almog Atias marked the 20th case his unit and the Shin Bet have handled over the past year involving Israelis suspected of spying for Iran.
The case remains under investigation; the charges in the indictment reflect the prosecutors' allegations and have not been proven in court.
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