Moti Maman (73) was allegedly smuggled into Iran twice to meet intelligence officials who tried to assign him to carry out assassinations and other missions.

The plan was for him to carry out assassinations against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defence Minister Yoav Galland and the head of Shin Bet, the intelligence service.

Shin Bet and Israeli police said in a joint statement that the suspect was smuggled into Iran twice and paid to carry out missions on behalf of Tehran, according to the Times of Israel.

The announcement came as Israel was on the brink of all-out war with Iran’s proxy in Lebanon, Hezbollah, after electronic devices held by members of the terror group exploded in a series of blasts that killed many and wounded thousands.

Earlier this week, Israel announced that Hezbollah had planned to assassinate former senior defence leaders, including Moshe Ya’alon, the former chief of staff of the Israeli Defence Forces.

Maman is said to be a businessman who lived in Turkey for extended periods, where he had Turkish and Iranian connections, both financially and socially.

While staying in Turkey, Maman was a member of the Israeli Defence Forces.

While in Turkey, he met a wealthy Iranian who lured him into the mission. Later, he was smuggled into Iran for more detailed planning.

Maman accepted the missions, but demanded $1 million in advance. He was paid €5,000 for his participation in the meeting. In August, he was arrested in Israel.

Maman’s lawyer says his client made “a misjudgement” and is cooperating fully with the authorities in the investigation.

It’s a pretty serious “misjudgement” to discuss with your country’s worst enemy about killing the leader of your country, defence and security services.

hin Bet official described the case as a “very serious matter, which is an example of the Iranian intelligence service’s great efforts to recruit Israeli citizens to promote terrorist activities in Israel.”

The official said the Shin Bet has assessed that Iran will continue its efforts to recruit Israeli civilians for espionage missions and terrorist attacks, particularly by contacting Israelis with criminal backgrounds.

“At a time when the State of Israel is at war on multiple fronts, an Israeli citizen travelled to an enemy country on two separate occasions, met with Iranian intelligence agents and expressed a willingness to carry out serious terrorist acts on Israeli soil. His actions aided Iran and its intelligence agents in their campaign against Israel,” the official said.

Shin Bet has in recent months revealed a series of alleged Iranian plots, in which Iran has attempted to trick Israelis online into carrying out missions for Tehran, and in January Israelis were allegedly recruited to collect intelligence on high-profile individuals.

Israel and Iran have long conducted major intelligence operations against each other. In July, Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh was assassinated in Iran’s capital Tehran, writes NTB.

The great war is getting closer, day by day.