An Israeli businessman is behind bars after allegedly agreeing to kill top government officials for Iran.

According to the Israel Security Agency (ISA), the plot began unfolding in April when the Israeli citizen agreed to meet with a wealthy Iranian businessman named Edi. This meeting, facilitated by Turkish intermediaries, led to the Israeli being smuggled into Iran twice over the following months.

During his visits to Iran in May and August, the Israeli met with Iranian intelligence officials who proposed a series of terrorist activities. Most alarmingly, they requested him to plan and execute assassination attacks targeting Prime Minister Netanyahu, Defense Minister Gallant, and ISA Chief Ronen Bar. Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett was also mentioned as a potential target.

Besides eliminating Israeli leadership, other terrorist activities were discussed. These included depositing funds at specific locations in Israel for other operatives, photographing crowded areas, threatening other citizens, and even attempting to recruit a Mossad agent as a double agent.

Throughout the negotiations, the Israeli suspect reportedly demanded an advance payment of one million dollars before agreeing to take any action. While this request was rebuffed, he did receive 5,000 Euros for his participation in the meetings before leaving Iran.

He was arrested shortly after returning to Israel in September.

A senior Shin Bet official described the case as “very serious” and warned of Iran’s continuous efforts to harm the Jewish State.

“At a time when the State of Israel is fighting a war on several fronts, an Israeli citizen goes to an enemy country on two different occasions, meets with Iranian intelligence agents and agrees to carry out serious acts of terrorism on Israeli soil,” he said.

“In cooperation with the Israel Police and other security agencies, we will continue efforts to monitor Iranian activity to recruit and activate Israeli elements and arrest them, while bringing the perpetrators to justice.

Update: The suspect has been identified as as 73-year-old Motti Maman from Ashkelon