Ex-CIA analyst will get 3 years in jail for leaking Israeli strike plans on Iran

A former CIA analyst who pleaded responsible in January over a leak of labeled Israeli plans to strike Iran was sentenced to 37 months in jail on Wednesday, the US Division of Justice mentioned.

In pleading responsible, Asif William Rahman, who had labored on the US intelligence company since 2016, acknowledged that he illegally downloaded, printed and distributed labeled info on a number of events, together with a number of in 2024.

WHY IT’S IMPORTANT

US ally Israel and its regional rival Iran had been within the midst of excessive tensions on the time and exchanged some blows.

Israel on the time was making ready to strike some Iranian websites in retaliation for a ballistic missile assault that the Iranian authorities mentioned was a response to Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh’s assassination by Israel in Tehran.

CONTEXT

Rahman had a “High Secret” safety clearance with entry to Delicate Compartmented Data (SCI) till his employment was terminated after his arrest in late 2024.

The paperwork, which entailed plans by Israel to strike Iran, later appeared on-line after a pro-Iranian Telegram account referred to as “Center East Spectator” revealed them.

Rahman, 34, is from Vienna, Virginia, and was arrested in Cambodia, in keeping with court docket data.

KEY QUOTE

“Asif Rahman violated his place of belief by illegally accessing, eradicating, and transmitting High Secret paperwork important to the nationwide safety of the US and its allies,” Erik Siebert, US Legal professional for the Jap District of Virginia, mentioned on Wednesday.