Israeli businessman demanded $1M to kill Netanyahu, other leaders, police say

Israeli constabulary and quality services said they foiled an Iranian crippled to assassinate apical leaders including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Moti Maman, a 73-year-old Israeli businessman from the metropolis of Ashkelon, is accused of doubly smuggling himself into Iran via Turkey to conscionable with quality officials directing would-be plots from Tehran.

The discussions allegedly included imaginable plans to onslaught Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, Shin Bet quality main Ronen Bar and erstwhile Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, among others.

Police and Shin Bet said the alleged plots were intended arsenic retaliation for the sidesplitting of Hamas main Ismail Hanieyh successful Tehran successful July, which Iran blamed connected Israel.

A associated constabulary and Shin Bet connection besides accused Maman of discussing the anticipation of acting arsenic a wealth courier for others successful Israel, locating Russian and American elements for the elimination of Tehran's opponents successful Europe and the U.S. and recruiting a Mossad "double agent."

Maman's purported contacts were an Iranian businessman named lone arsenic Eddie, a antheral named Hajjah who was presented arsenic an Iranian quality cause and different unnamed quality personnel.

The 73-year-old is alleged to person traveled to Iran doubly -- successful May and August 2024 -- pursuing preparatory meetings with representatives of Eddie successful Turkey, the archetypal of which took spot successful the confederate metropolis of Samandag successful April 2024, constabulary said.

Maman was smuggled done the Turkey-Iran borderline twice, the 2nd clip "hidden wrong a motortruck cabin," the connection said.

"The Israeli national demanded an beforehand outgo of $1 cardinal dollars earlier performing immoderate action," constabulary and Shin Bet said. "Iranian agents refused his petition and informed him they would interaction him successful the future."

Maman allegedly received the equivalent of astir $558,000 successful euros for attending the meetings with Iranian quality personnel.

Authorities indicted Maman connected Sept. 19.

A elder Shin Bet authoritative described the lawsuit arsenic "very serious," adding that information assessments "suggest that Iranians volition proceed their efforts to enlistee operatives successful Israel for quality gathering and carrying retired violent missions successful Israel, including approaching individuals with transgression backgrounds to fulfill these tasks."

ABC News' Jordana Miller and Joe Simonetti contributed to this report.