Jerusalem, 16 September, 2026 (TPS-IL) — the Central District Court in Lod sentenced Petah Tikva resident Alexander Granovsky to 13.5 years in prison Wednesday after he was convicted of spying for Iran, maintaining ongoing contact with an Iranian handler via Telegram, and carrying out a series of security-related tasks in exchange for payment.
Under the handler’s direction, Granovsky documented power-station facilities and the neighborhood where MK Benny Gantz resides, torched nine vehicles, sprayed graffiti, was instructed to destroy IDF uniforms, and helped seek out individuals with criminal records for violent operations, earning thousands of dollars via a digital wallet.
Prosecutors said Granovsky knew his handler was a hostile agent yet continued cooperating and even proposed further tasks himself.
The court called it the harshest sentence yet among similar Iranian-agent cases, citing deterrence.
Granovsky pleaded guilty to all charges, including contact with a foreign agent, transmitting information to an enemy, and arson.