A 21-year-old American seminary student in Jerusalem has been indicted on espionage charges, becoming the first U.S. citizen prosecuted in a widening crackdown on individuals recruited to spy for Iran.
Eli Lavon was formally charged with contacting a foreign agent and communicating information useful to an enemy. Prosecutors allege he was recruited in November 2025 via a Telegram job posting while visiting family in the U.S.
Upon returning to Israel, an alleged Iranian intelligence handler directed Lavon to conduct surveillance. His tasks reportedly included filming an abandoned building and a grocery store in Jerusalem, and concealing a coded message in a mall trash can. He was paid in cryptocurrency, communicating through multiple phones and Telegram accounts.
After initial contact ended, prosecutors say Lavon communicated with a second handler, hiding a flash drive in a restaurant and sending a passport photo. He reportedly declined requests for names of fellow students. Total alleged payments were approximately $1,379.
Lavon's defense attorney disputes the espionage characterization, arguing the online contact does not constitute spying.
Since 2023, Israel has indicted roughly 60 people on Iran-linked espionage charges. Officials state that some sites allegedly surveilled by recruits were later targeted in Iranian missile attacks.