Asif William Rahman, a 34-year-old former analyst for the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), pleaded guilty on January 17, 2025, to charges of unlawfully retaining and transmitting Top Secret National Defense Information. Rahman admitted to leaking classified documents detailing Israel’s plans for a military strike against Iran, which were subsequently disseminated on social media platforms.
In October 2024, Rahman accessed and printed two Top Secret documents from the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) and the National Security Agency (NSA). These documents outlined Israel’s intended airstrike in retaliation for Iran’s missile attack on October 1, 2024. Rahman transported the documents to his residence, reproduced them, and distributed them to individuals without the necessary security clearance. The leaked information appeared on a Telegram channel called “Middle East Spectator” and was later shared across multiple social media platforms.
The unauthorized release of these documents compelled Israeli officials to postpone their planned retaliatory strike, which was eventually carried out on October 26, 2024. The leak not only compromised operational security but also strained diplomatic relations and highlighted vulnerabilities in the handling of classified information.
Legal Proceedings and Sentencing
Rahman was arrested in November 2024 in Cambodia and subsequently extradited to the United States. He pleaded guilty to two counts of willful retention and transmission of national defense information, each carrying a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for May 15, 2025, with guidelines recommending a prison term between five and six-and-a-half years. Rahman is currently detained and cooperating with federal authorities, which may influence the final sentencing outcome.
