Daijiworld Media Network - Tehran
Tehran, Jun 9: In a development that could further strain already tense relations between Iran and Israel, Iranian state media on Saturday claimed that Iranian intelligence had obtained a vast collection of highly sensitive Israeli documents, including materials reportedly tied to Israel’s nuclear infrastructure and activities. The reports, which have not yet been confirmed by Israeli authorities, were relayed by Iran’s PressTV and picked up by Reuters.
According to PressTV, the operation to secure the documents took place some time ago, but the volume of information was so extensive that it required a carefully orchestrated plan to safely transport the materials into Iran. The channel cited unnamed sources, claiming that a news blackout had been maintained to ensure the materials reached secure locations without interception.
PressTV reported that “the abundance of documents is so vast that reviewing them, along with accompanying images and videos, has consumed a significant amount of time,” although no specific details were provided regarding the nature or content of the files.
The timing of the disclosure remains unclear, but it may be linked to a cyberattack on an Israeli nuclear research center that was reported last year. Tehran may now be choosing to publicize the information amid ongoing tensions over its nuclear program.
Back in 2018, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu famously unveiled what he described as a massive cache of Iranian nuclear documents seized by Israeli intelligence, which he said revealed Tehran’s extensive nuclear activities beyond what had previously been disclosed.
The new revelations also come amid shifting dynamics in international diplomacy. Former US President Donald Trump previously threatened military action against Iran to curb its nuclear program, but reports earlier this year suggested he had blocked an Israeli plan to strike Iranian nuclear sites in favor of pursuing a diplomatic resolution.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, meanwhile, doubled down last week on his country’s commitment to uranium enrichment, calling it “100%” essential for Iran’s national interests, thereby rejecting one of Washington’s central demands in efforts to revive nuclear negotiations.
The latest Iranian claims, if verified, could further complicate efforts to reach a diplomatic settlement and intensify regional tensions at a time when relations between Iran and Israel remain fraught.