Former CIA Analyst Sentenced for Leaking Classified Israeli Strike Plans on Iran
Asif William Rahman receives 37-month prison sentence for unauthorized disclosure of national defense information.
Asif William Rahman, a former CIA analyst, has been sentenced to 37 months in prison following his conviction for leaking classified documents related to Israel's military plans against Iran.
Rahman, 34, pleaded guilty in January to two counts of willful retention and transmission of national defense information under the Espionage Act.
According to government authorities, Rahman utilized his high-level security clearance to print, photograph, and distribute sensitive documents, which later emerged on social media platforms.
His actions are reported to have included the dissemination of top-secret information concerning Israel’s military strategy for an air strike in Iran, which took place in October 2023.
Israeli military operations targeted various sites across Iran in retaliation for missile attacks launched from Tehran, marking a significant escalation in regional tensions.
In October 2024, documents purportedly from a Department of Defense agency appeared on an Iranian-aligned Telegram account.
These documents, marked as top secret, were accessible to members of the Five Eyes intelligence alliance, comprising the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia.
The leaked information reportedly included U.S. assessments of Israeli operational plans prior to the strike and provided insights into the mobilization of military assets.
Notably, some documents referenced Israel’s undeclared nuclear capabilities.
Former President Joe Biden expressed his deep concern regarding the leak, highlighting the sensitive nature of the shared intelligence.
Rahman, who worked in an international capacity, was apprehended by the FBI in Cambodia and subsequently extradited to the U.S. territory of Guam to face charges.
Rahman, 34, pleaded guilty in January to two counts of willful retention and transmission of national defense information under the Espionage Act.
According to government authorities, Rahman utilized his high-level security clearance to print, photograph, and distribute sensitive documents, which later emerged on social media platforms.
His actions are reported to have included the dissemination of top-secret information concerning Israel’s military strategy for an air strike in Iran, which took place in October 2023.
Israeli military operations targeted various sites across Iran in retaliation for missile attacks launched from Tehran, marking a significant escalation in regional tensions.
In October 2024, documents purportedly from a Department of Defense agency appeared on an Iranian-aligned Telegram account.
These documents, marked as top secret, were accessible to members of the Five Eyes intelligence alliance, comprising the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia.
The leaked information reportedly included U.S. assessments of Israeli operational plans prior to the strike and provided insights into the mobilization of military assets.
Notably, some documents referenced Israel’s undeclared nuclear capabilities.
Former President Joe Biden expressed his deep concern regarding the leak, highlighting the sensitive nature of the shared intelligence.
Rahman, who worked in an international capacity, was apprehended by the FBI in Cambodia and subsequently extradited to the U.S. territory of Guam to face charges.
