A 73-year-old Israeli was arrested on Thursday for trying to kill Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s prime minister, in an Iran-backed assassination plot.
Moti Maman, from Ashkelon, southern Israel, was smuggled twice into Iran, where talks were held over paying him as a hitman, according to Israeli security officials.
Yoav Gallant, the defence minister, and Ronen Bar, the head of the Shin Bet intelligence agency, were also allegedly discussed as targets in addition to Mr Netanyahu.
“The Israeli citizen entered Iran… smuggled through the border hidden inside a truck cabin,” an Israel Defense Forces statement read. “He met with additional Iranian intelligence agents and was asked by them to carry out activities for Iran on Israeli soil, including promoting assassination attacks.”
Mr Maman allegedly demanded an advance payment of $1 million (£756,000) before carrying out instructions.
Eyal Besserglick, his lawyer, said his client had made an “error of judgment” and was cooperating with Israel’s intelligence agencies.
“It can already be said that this is a person who has greatly assisted the security services of the State of Israel, whose children serve in the security forces,” he added.