By Gloria Ogbonna
Turkey’s National Intelligence Organization (MIT), working in close coordination with local counter-terrorism police units, carried out a series of synchronized raids across five provinces this week, resulting in the arrest of six individuals suspected of conducting espionage activities on behalf of Iran.
Turkish authorities say the operation uncovered a covert intelligence network with links to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), a group designated as a terrorist organization by multiple countries.
According to Turkish security officials and local media reports, the alleged espionage cell was actively gathering intelligence on Incirlik Air Base, one of the most strategically important military installations in the region.
The base, located in southern Turkey, is jointly used by Turkish and U.S. forces and has long been considered a critical hub for NATO and American military operations in the Middle East.
Turkish media outlets reported that the suspects were coordinating their activities directly with the IRGC. Among those detained is an Iranian national identified as Ashkan Jalali, while the remaining five suspects are Turkish citizens. Jalali is believed to have played a central role in the network’s operations, acting as a key liaison between Iranian intelligence handlers and operatives on the ground in Turkey.
Pro-government newspaper Daily Sabah reported on Wednesday that Jalali, who was based in Ankara, was allegedly attempting to acquire armed unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) from within Turkey. Investigators believe he planned to use two companies under his control as cover to purchase the drones, which would then be transferred to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and to Greek Cyprus. Several of the Turkish nationals arrested during the raids were reportedly managers or senior figures within Jalali’s companies, suggesting the businesses were used as fronts for intelligence and logistics operations.
Further details from the investigation indicate that Jalali and one of the suspects, Alican Koc, attended what were described as “specialized drone training sessions” in Iran during August and September of 2025. Turkish authorities believe these sessions were designed to provide technical expertise in drone operations, surveillance, and potential offensive capabilities. Two other suspects, Erhan Ergelen and Taner Ozcan, allegedly traveled to Iran in October 2025 and were involved in planning the shipment of drones to Greek Cyprus.
Cyprus itself remains a deeply sensitive and divided region. The island has been split since 1974, when Turkey intervened militarily following a Greek-backed attempt to annex the entire territory.
This intervention led to the creation of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, a self-declared state recognized only by Turkey. Iran has a documented history of attempting to exert influence in Cyprus, often viewing the island as a strategic foothold for intelligence gathering and regional leverage.
Investigators say the activities of the espionage ring extended well beyond drone procurement and surveillance.
According to Daily Sabah, some of the profits generated through commercial drone sales were allegedly siphoned off to finance the group’s espionage operations. In addition to monitoring Incirlik Air Base, authorities believe the network may have been preparing operations targeting Iranian dissidents living abroad, raising concerns about potential assassination or intimidation plots outside Iran’s borders.
Turkish intelligence officials allege that the spy cell was overseen by two senior IRGC operatives identified as Najaf Rostami and Mahdi Yekeh Dehghan, who reportedly operated under the code names “Haji” and “Doctor.”
These individuals are believed to have directed the cell’s activities remotely, providing guidance, funding, and operational objectives.
As of now, the Iranian embassy in Ankara has not issued an official response to the arrests or the allegations.
The investigation remains ongoing, with Turkish authorities signaling that additional suspects or related networks could still be uncovered as intelligence agencies continue to analyze seized materials, digital communications, and financial records.
The case underscores Ankara’s growing concerns about foreign intelligence operations on Turkish soil and highlights the increasingly complex shadow conflict playing out between regional powers across the Middle East and Eastern Mediterranean.
Source Breitbart
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