Did Iran try to spy on Israel's new strategic asset?
The submarine INS Drakon arrived in Israel, but behind its arrival lies an intelligence story: 2.2 km from the shipyard in Germany, a marine research institute operated where about ten Iranian researchers worked, some from universities linked to the nuclear program. Israel identified the risk in advance and considered the possibility of surveillance.
The strategic submarine INS Drakon arrived in Israel last weekend after a long wait. It was built at a shipyard in Kiel, Germany, in a deal signed about fourteen years ago. However, the real story, according to the report, is an intelligence concern: just 2.2 kilometers from the shipyard operates the GEOMAR international marine research institute. Despite its civilian activities, its proximity to a sensitive security shipyard was flagged in risk assessments in Israel. Among the researchers working at GEOMAR were about ten Iranians, who studied at universities in Iran. At least five came from Shahid Beheshti University and Amirkabir University – institutions linked to Iran's nuclear program and subject to sanctions. German intelligence itself has previously warned about researchers with dual identities. Following the warnings, the arrival of researchers was restricted, and the Ministry of Defense and the Mossad defined GEOMAR as a sensitive entity. The central question that remains open is whether Iran tried to exploit this presence for surveillance. As of now, there is no conclusive evidence of an attempt at surveillance or information leakage, but the mere presence of the researchers within reach of the strategic asset leaves the intelligence question open. The Ministry of Defense stated that the claims of information leakage are not known and there is no indication of such.