Israel accuses Iran of targeting Israelis in Greek Cypriot Administration

JERUSALEM (AA) – Israel on Monday accused Iran of targeting Israeli businessmen residing in Greek Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus.

"Regarding some of the reports last night about the incident in Cyprus [Greek Cypriot Administration], I would like to clarify, in the name of security officials, that it is a terrorism event that was directed by Iran against Israeli businessmen who live” there, Matan Sidi, spokesman for Israeli Premier Naftali Bennett, said in statements cited by Israeli Times news website.

"This wasn’t a criminal incident, and businessman Teddy Sagi wasn’t the [specific] target of the attack,” he added.

The Israeli Broadcasting Corporation network said an Azeri citizen who holds a Russian passport was arrested over an assassination attempt against the Israeli billionaire businessman and he was brought to judiciary in the Greek Cypriot Administration in a closed session due to security reasons.

The broadcaster said it obtained information from a company for the Israeli billionaire which indicate thwarting an Iranian plan to target Israelis in the Greek Cypriot Administration.

The Israeli network also said that Iran was trying to retaliate against Israel's targeting of Iranian scientists involved in Iran’s nuclear program.

Writing by Ahmed Asmar in Ankara