Iranian authorities announced on Friday the arrest of a man holding European nationality on charges of espionage and photographing sensitive sites in the northwest of the country. Officials stated that the accused had entered Iran as a tourist but was on a secret mission to gather information about strategic locations, coinciding with escalating tensions and Israeli strikes on Iranian territory.

The authorities indicated that the arrest took place in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province, where he was found in possession of numerous photographs of key sites and sensitive points, particularly in desert areas. A file containing these images was also confiscated. Investigations revealed that the European citizen had been residing in one of the Iranian cities using a SIM card registered in the name of an Iranian national, in addition to possessing several mobile phones to support his suspicious activities.
These developments come at a time when the region is witnessing a dangerous escalation between Iran and Israel, with ongoing exchanges of attacks since clashes erupted a week ago. This morning, Iran launched a new batch of missiles toward Israeli territory, one of which hit the city of Haifa in northern Israel.

Amid the escalating crisis, U.S. President Donald Trump announced a two-week window for diplomatic efforts before making any decision regarding a military strike on Iran. Meanwhile, the British foreign secretary noted a "real opportunity" to resolve the crisis through dialogue, as European and Iranian officials continue their meetings in Geneva. While some in the U.S. administration expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of these talks, a White House official confirmed that the door to negotiations remains open to achieve any possible breakthrough.