A former CIA analyst, Asif William Rahman, 34, has been sentenced to 37 months in prison for leaking classified documents about Israel’s plans to strike Iran. Rahman pleaded guilty in January to two counts of willful retention and transmission of national defense information under the Espionage Act.
According to authorities, Rahman used his high-level security clearance to print, photograph, and send out top-secret documents, which were later circulated on social media. The leaked documents contained the US’ assessment of Israeli plans ahead of the strike on Iran and the movements of military assets in preparation. One document even referred to Israel’s nuclear capabilities, which have never been officially acknowledged.
John Eisenberg, assistant attorney general for national security, condemned Rahman’s actions, stating, “For months, this defendant betrayed the American people and the oaths he took upon entering his office by leaking some of our Nation’s most closely held secrets.” Former President Joe Biden also expressed concern over the leak, saying he was “deeply concerned”.
The leaked documents were viewable between the Five Eyes intelligence alliance, comprising the US, Britain, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia. Israel carried out air strikes on Iran last October, targeting military sites in several regions, in response to a barrage of missiles launched by Tehran weeks earlier. Rahman, who worked abroad, was arrested by the FBI in Cambodia and brought to the US territory of Guam to face charges.
Rahman’s actions were seen as a serious breach of national security, and his sentence reflects the severity of his crimes. The incident highlights the importance of protecting classified information and maintaining the trust placed in government officials with high-level security clearances.