JERUSALEM, (PNA/Xinhua) — The Israeli security forces arrested an Iranian man suspected of spying for Tehran at Tel Aviv ‘s airport on Sept. 11, an Israeli court revealed on Sunday.
According to a statement by Court Authority, 55-year-old Ali Mantzuri entered Israel holding a Belgian passport and was about to leave the country when arrested.
The suspect carried photographs of different sites in Israel, including some of the U.S. embassy in Tel Aviv, the statement said, adding the Shin Bet security agency and the Israeli police have launched a joint investigation of the case.
The suspect has reportedly confessed to Shin Bet and gave details about his mission.
Mantzuri, who visited Israel in July 2012 and January 2013, is alleged to be an Iranian intelligence agent affiliated with the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution’s Special Operations Unit.
Mantzuri lived in Europe in the past 20 years and got a Belgian citizenship after marrying a Belgian woman in 2006.
He was purportedly recruited by the Iranian Revolutionary Guards in the beginning of 2012, using his identity as a businessman to cover up his espionage activities for Iran.
According to his account, his operators told him he would receive 1 million U.S. dollars if he succeeded in his task.