Iran Claims to Possess Secret Israeli Nuclear, Defense Documents
Iran’s Intelligence Minister Esmail Khatib says Tehran has acquired a vast cache of sensitive Israeli documents, allegedly exposing details about Israel’s nuclear infrastructure, international alliances, and military capabilities. The documents, which Khatib described as a “treasure trove,” will be released to the public soon, he told state television on Sunday.
Khatib did not provide concrete evidence or samples of the materials but asserted that the documents had been securely transferred to undisclosed locations within Iran. “Speaking of thousands of documents would be an understatement,” he said, adding that the operation required strict security protocols and an extended period of secrecy.
The Israeli government has yet to comment on Iran’s claims. Israel has long maintained a policy of strategic ambiguity regarding its nuclear capabilities but is widely believed to possess a substantial stockpile of nuclear weapons, making it the only such power in the Middle East.
Iranian media did not specify whether the alleged materials were linked to a cyberattack last year on an Israeli nuclear research facility or to recent arrests of Israelis accused of spying for Iran during the ongoing Gaza war.
The announcement marks the latest development in the years-long covert conflict between Iran and Israel, which has included cyberattacks, assassinations, and proxy confrontations. In April 2024, the two countries briefly exchanged direct military strikes after Iran retaliated for Israel’s bombing of its consulate in Damascus.
While tensions have remained high, broader regional conflict has thus far been avoided.
The claim comes as international scrutiny mounts over Iran’s nuclear programme. A recent report by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) accused Tehran of conducting undeclared nuclear activities, prompting calls for censure by the agency’s Board of Governors this week.
Though Iran denies seeking nuclear weapons, it maintains its right to develop atomic energy for civilian use. The country has resisted U.S. demands to halt uranium enrichment, a core issue in indirect negotiations between Tehran and Washington, which have been hosted in Oman and Italy.
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Wednesday sharply rejected the U.S. position, saying:
“The rude and arrogant leaders of America repeatedly demand that we should not have a nuclear programme. Who are you to decide whether Iran should have enrichment?”
Iran’s parliamentary speaker also confirmed that the latest American proposals exclude sanctions relief, suggesting that talks may once again be at a standstill.
