By Noureddine Omar | 2025-08-05

The recent arrest of an Iranian spy in Israel is a sign of the evolving nature of modern espionage, where encrypted messaging apps and human intelligence converge to create intelligence operations between the two adversaries.

The captured agent had infiltrated Israeli military planning, obtaining sensitive information about potential ground attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities and designated flight routes for Israeli drones, according to local media.

The spy's use of social media applications was noteworthy, as Iranian authorities have blocked their own citizens and businesses from the same platforms.

"Espionage always has been the most prominent tool in wars between countries," Saudi military expert Mansour al-Shehri told Al-Fassel.

"But this tool has become more sophisticated and important in our current era due to significant technological advancements and the ease of communication and information transfer."

In the Israeli-Iranian conflict, espionage is an essential component of military operations, enabling precise planning and post-operation intelligence gathering, al-Shehri explained.

Despite advanced satellite technology and monitoring devices, the human element remains crucial, particularly when combined with secure, encrypted communication channels such as Telegram, he noted.

The irony of Iranian operatives using Western social media platforms while their government restricts citizen access to these same tools highlights the strategic importance Tehran places on digital espionage capabilities, al-Shehri observed.

Recruitment methods

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has developed a multifaceted approach to planting agents, including within Israel, Iranian affairs expert Sheyar Turko told Al-Fassel.

Since the Iranian regime came to power, he noted, the IRGC has been steadily expanding its intelligence reach beyond Iran's borders.

"Given the complexity of the confrontation between Israel and Iran..., the IRGC has resorted to using certain options to recruiting agents inside Israel," Turko said, noting that the IRGC employs three primary recruitment strategies.

In one strategy, financial incentives drive recruitment efforts that target individuals already within Israel, he said.

Another approach involves planting agents of Iranian origin who maintain special and social connections that compel their continued cooperation.

And yet another method involves the use of romantic relationships. This remains the weakest option, Turko said, as it requires years of preparation and sustained undercover operations without direct handler contact.

The "spy war" between the two nations will intensify as tensions persist and international trust in Iran remains limited, al-Shehri said.

The next phase will likely see additional arrests of Iranian operatives attempting to gather sensitive Israeli intelligence, pointing to the ongoing nature of this invisible conflict, he predicted.