Iranian terror plot targeting Israeli citizens in Cyprus foiled, Israeli Foreign Minister

Cypriot authorities have foiled a planned terrorist attack targeting Israeli citizens on the island, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar announced on Saturday. 

An Azerbaijani national with suspected ties to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has been arrested and charged with multiple terrorism-related offences.

The suspect, believed to be an operative of the IRGC — widely regarded by Western nations as the paramilitary wing of the Iranian regime — was apprehended on Friday morning following a tip-off from a foreign intelligence agency. He was brought before the Limassol District Court, which ordered his detention for eight days in a closed-door hearing due to the classified nature of the investigation.

Foreign Minister Saar described the thwarted operation as an attempt by the “terrorist arm of the Iranian regime” to harm Israeli citizens abroad. He praised Cypriot authorities for their "swift and effective action" and credited close cooperation between Cypriot and Israeli security services for averting the attack.

Surveillance Operation Uncovers Espionage Activities

According to local media outlet Philenews, Cypriot police received classified intelligence on June 20, 2025, from a cooperating foreign partner. The suspect had reportedly been in Cyprus since April, gathering information on the presence of foreign military personnel and installations — with indications he was preparing for an imminent attack.

Surveillance efforts revealed that the suspect resided in a flat near the British Sovereign Base Areas in Zakaki, Limassol. He was observed frequently walking near the British bases, carrying a large camera equipped with a telephoto lens and three mobile phones. Authorities say he took numerous photographs and videos, made handwritten notes, and exhibited behavior consistent with intelligence gathering.

In one instance, the suspect traveled by public bus from Limassol to Paphos and then on to the vicinity of the “Andreas Papandreou” Air Base. There, he allegedly engaged in more suspicious activity, including photographing military infrastructure — raising further suspicions of espionage.

Charges and Continuing Investigation

The man faces a range of serious charges, including terrorism, espionage, conspiracy to commit a felony, and related offences. Cypriot police confirmed that the arrest was the result of a coordinated operation led by the headquarters’ special unit, and investigations remain ongoing.

Minister Saar condemned Iran’s actions, stating, “The Iranian criminal regime deliberately targets Israeli citizens both in Israel and around the world.” He reaffirmed Israel’s commitment to countering such threats, declaring, “We will continue to take action to eliminate the existential threat posed by the Iranian terrorist regime.”

The incident underscores ongoing concerns over Iranian-backed terrorism and highlights the importance of international intelligence cooperation in thwarting cross-border threats.