Iran Threatens to Reveal Secret Israel Nuclear Data: What We Know
Iran's intelligence minister has said the country holds a vast trove of classified Israeli documents and plans to release them soon. The files detail Israel's nuclear program, foreign relations, and defense capabilities, according to state media.
The Israeli government has not commented on the claim, which comes amid rising tensions between the two countries and renewed scrutiny of Iran's own nuclear activities.
Newsweek has reached out to the Iranian and Israeli foreign ministries for comment.
The disclosure adds a new layer of uncertainty to a region already on edge. Any release of secret Israeli nuclear data could destabilize diplomatic relations, provoke military retaliation, or undermine U.S.-led negotiations with Tehran. The episode also highlights the deepening mistrust between Iran and the West over nuclear ambitions, espionage, and covert operations.
Iranian Intelligence Minister Esmail Khatib said Tehran had acquired thousands of Israeli documents, describing them as a "treasure trove" capable of strengthening Iran's strategic position. He said the materials had been transferred under heavy secrecy to secure locations in Iran and would be published "soon."
"Talking of thousands of documents would be an understatement," Khatib said, adding that the transfer required "confidential" methods and a period of "media silence," according to Iran's state broadcaster.
Iran has not revealed how it obtained the documents it says it has or if they relate to the 2023 cyberattack on an Israeli nuclear center. State media called the transfer part of a wider intelligence campaign, highlighting its secrecy and complexity. Recent arrests of Israelis accused of spying for Tehran, though not officially linked, have raised speculation of a connection.
Meanwhile, a social media account closely linked to Iran's armed forces also posted a message in Hebrew shortly after the announcement, stating: "We know all your secrets now." The post appeared to signal a coordinated effort to amplify Tehran's claims and increase psychological pressure on Israeli officials.
Trita Parsi, Executive Vice President of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft and a leading expert on Middle East geopolitics, told Newsweek that "an intelligence war has been ongoing between Israel and Iran," and that based on recent arrests in Israel, "it does appear as if Tehran has succeeded in recruiting a large number of informants in Israel." He added, "Whether the documents Tehran claims it has obtained come from those recruits and whether they contain important revelations, remains to be seen."
The announcement is the latest salvo in a protracted campaign of hostilities between Iran and Israel. Iran has blamed Israel for assassinating its nuclear scientists, while Israel accuses Tehran of arming regional militias targeting Israeli assets. Last year, the two exchanged limited strikes after Israel bombed Iran's consulate in Damascus. Though escalation was avoided, tensions remain high.
Those tensions now intersect with renewed international scrutiny of Iran's nuclear program. Just as Tehran threatens to expose Israeli secrets, a recent report from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) accused Iran of carrying out undeclared nuclear activities. While Iran maintains its ambitions are peaceful, the U.S. has renewed calls for curbs on uranium enrichment and greater transparency.
Negotiations between Washington and Tehran remain stalled, with Iran saying the latest U.S. proposal does not include the lifting of sanctions-a core demand for Tehran-signaling a potential deadlock. Iran is expected to submit a counteroffer soon.
Trita Parsi, Executive Vice President of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, told Newsweek: "Tehran may seek to shed a spotlight on Israel's undeclared nuclear weapons program. But unlike Iran, Israel is not a party to the NPT and, as a result, has never committed legally to refrain from building nuclear weapons."
Esmail Khatib, Iranian Intelligence Minister, said, "The transfer of this treasure trove was time-consuming and required security measures... the documents should be unveiled soon."
Any publication of Israeli documents could escalate diplomatic tensions and reshape regional dynamics-diverting international scrutiny just as nuclear negotiations reach a fragile stage. The IAEA Board of Governors is expected to censure Iran over its nuclear program later this week. Meanwhile, Iran is preparing a counter-proposal after rejecting the U.S. nuclear offer, prompting President Donald Trump to caution that "time is running out."
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By this, I mean that something such as Black Lives Matter and Defund the Police, which had relevance in America a few years ago, gets picked up here… even though we have a quite different population and methods of policing. Those protesting what is happening in Gaza are not all uninformed, but many are. Younger people recruited from Just Stop Oil (and now presenting as Youth Demand) have stopped soup-throwing in favour of this new pressing cause. But they have not talked about famine in Yemen or the atrocities of Sudan. Interconnectedness has its limits, after all. There may well be links between climate change and war. Many argue that drought was a factor in the unrest that led to the Syrian civil war. The omnicause, though, does not do specifics. It favours symbolic demonstrations that can go viral. These simplistic spectacles of righteousness often backfire. What did Fossil Free Books achieve, for instance? It decided to campaign against companies that had any connection to Israel. The result was that investment firms such as Baillie Gifford stopped funding book festivals. How this helped either the environment or indeed the Palestinian cause is something of a mystery. Thunberg's stunt has been similarly self-aggrandising and vacuous. Watching footage of this climate activist and her mates all chucking their expensive phones into the sea as they were about to be taken by the Israelis showed that, of course, when the chips were down, environmental concerns went out of the window. The omnicause does not require logic, consistency or even coherence. It is closer to acting than activism. It depends on melodrama and a narrative of provocative images. Thunberg may be brave and have been prepared to sacrifice herself – though for what, exactly, I am not sure. But now we have seen the pictures, I am afraid that what she has sacrificed has been her integrity. The omnicause burns itself out in the end because it has no actual strategy. It simply signifies tribal loyalty. It gobbles everything up and spits out its participants, who simply move on to the next 'wrong' thing. You might think that, for Thunberg, her ship has sailed. But that does not mean she won't clamber aboard the next one that hoves into view. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
