Two people of Iranian origin are in custody for a case of terrorism against Israelis or people of Jewish origin in Cyprus, as a Police source confirmed to the Cyprus News Agency (CYPE).

The Police is investigating the case, however, due to the nature of the matter, no further comment can be made, the source said, noting that the Police received relevant information that led to the arrest of two people of Iranian origin who have been brought before a court and are in custody.

Furthermore, a government source told KYPE that as this is a matter that touches on “sensitive national security issues” the Cypriot government does not currently consider it appropriate to make any further comments.

The issue was brought to light by the newspaper “Kathimerini tis Kyriakis” which in its publication talked about two Iranians who entered the Republic through occupied territories and who appear to be connected to the Iranian Revolutionary Guards and allegedly collected information on people of Jewish origin residing in Cyprus.

Earlier today, Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency confirmed reports that Cypriot security authorities arrested two people of Iranian nationality who were allegedly planning an attack on Israeli and Jewish targets in Cyprus.

Specifically, according to the Mossad and Israeli media that cite it, the Cypriot authorities arrested last month two Iranian nationals residing on the island and allegedly in contact with a member of the Revolutionary Guards, under whose guidance and recruitment they were in initial stage of intelligence gathering related to possible Jewish and Israeli targets in Cyprus.

“Thanks to the deterrent actions implemented by the security authorities of Cyprus, the arrest of the network of agents was achieved, following the collection of a lot of information that led to the identification of the perpetrators, the methods of their activity, the goals they had set and the plan of the Iranians to attack innocent people in various places in Cyprus”, says the Mossad’s announcement, as broadcast today by the Israeli state television.

Israeli media reported that the two Iranians were using fake passports and fake names. In fact, a photo of the Iranian passport allegedly used by one of the arrested suspects was released.

State-run Israeli television, citing well-informed sources within the state security authorities, reported that the assessment that the two arrested Iranians were residing in Cyprus as economic migrants was considered to be well-founded.

According to the same sources, the activity of the two Iranians was allegedly facilitated by “Iranian agents located in Cyprus, who were involved in the process of gathering information related to the planned targets of the attacks.”

The two Iranian suspects were reportedly arrested by Cypriot authorities in early November and have since been detained and questioned.

In addition, the Israeli sources, cited by the state media, state that “during the investigations, which are still in progress, it emerged that the two Iranians were collecting information concerning third-country agencies located outside of Cyprus”, adding that ” the investigations are continuing in order to clarify this aspect of their activity as well.”

Information was also made public about the identity of the alleged recruiter of the two arrested, with whom they were in contact and cooperation in the context of their mission in Cyprus.

In particular, it is an Iranian national allegedly named Mohammadreza Abadi Arablou, also known by the surname Said Abadi, who is said to be in possession of a large number of fake passports and documents related to his identity.

Israeli media published a photo of his Iranian passport.

According to a related report by the state Israeli television, Mohammadreza Ebadi Arablou, the alleged recruiter of his two arrested compatriots, is known to the Israeli secret services as an agent of the Revolutionary Guards. He is also alleged to have taken an active role as an operative of “Unit 400” under the “Al-Quds Force” of the Revolutionary Guards during the November 2022 assassination attempt on an Israeli citizen in Georgia.

The Israeli media praise the effectiveness of the Cypriot secret services, stressing that this is the second operation to prevent an Iranian terrorist attack on the island in 2023, citing a similar case last June.

Commenting on the developments, the Office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a statement directly accusing Iran of being a state sponsor of terrorism.

“Iran does not hesitate to use any means possible to carry out its criminal plans,” the statement said, adding that “the Mossad, with the services it cooperates with in the field of security and intelligence management, continues its work tirelessly to repel threats of Iran and the organizations it supports, in order to protect the State of Israel, its citizens and the Jewish people, wherever they are.”

On the occasion of the publication of the arrest in Cyprus of the two Iranian suspects for preparing terrorist attacks on the island, Israel’s National Security Council issued a statement, specifically referring to Cyprus.

“Since the outbreak of the war, from October 7 until today, the number of Israelis in Cyprus has increased,” the announcement states.

It refers to the occupied territories, noting that “the Iranian presence in northern Cyprus and its use, both in the past and now, either as a target area or as a place to prepare attacks against Israeli and Jewish targets, is a matter of concern” .

It concludes that “Israeli national security authorities recently updated the list of countries where there is a risk to the safety of Israelis abroad.”

In particular, Israel’s National Security Council updated the categorization of 80 countries in terms of the degree of danger for Israelis and Jews living in or visiting these countries.

These countries include Greece, which until recently was classified in “Category 1” (safe countries), while after the start of the war in Gaza, it is classified in “Category 2”, which includes countries that are recommended to take increased measures security, without however recommending the issuance of a travel directive. On the contrary, Cyprus is not included in the updated list of countries regarding their degree of danger to Israeli and/or Jewish residents and visitors.