In a shocking turn of events, a young Azerbaijani couple residing in Israel has been charged with gathering intelligence for the Iranian government, posing a serious threat to the nation's security. Rafael Guliyev, 32, and his wife Lala, 29, have been accused of surveilling sensitive facilities and carrying out various tasks on behalf of Iranian intelligence operatives, putting their loyalty to Israel in question.Betraying the Land They Call Home: The Guliyev Couple's Espionage Saga
Aliyah to Israel, Recruitment by Iranian Agents
Rafael Guliyev, a 32-year-old Azerbaijani national, made aliyah to Israel with his family at the tender age of 7. During a visit to his homeland, he encountered Lala, a 29-year-old woman, who later joined him in Israel six months ago. The couple's seemingly ordinary lives took a dark turn when they were caught surveilling a highly sensitive security facility in Tel Aviv, allegedly on behalf of Iranian intelligence operatives.
Charged with Aiding the Enemy and Compromising National Security
On Thursday, the couple was charged with gathering intelligence for Iran, facing serious security-related charges of aiding the enemy in wartime and providing information to the enemy with the intent to harm national security. The prosecution requested to remand the couple until the end of the legal proceedings against them, citing the gravity of their alleged offenses.
Recruitment and Assignments: The Couple's Treacherous Involvement
The indictment revealed that individuals identifying themselves as Elshan and Hassan, acting on behalf of Iranian intelligence agencies, were involved in recruiting Israelis, including the Guliyev couple, to carry out various tasks aimed at gathering intelligence for the Islamic Republic. The defendants were asked to photograph the Mossad headquarters, take pictures of graves of those killed in the October 7 massacre, and monitor an academic from the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) with the intent to harm her.
Monetary Incentives and the Couple's Compliance
The Iranian handlers, one of whom had a prior acquaintance with the defendant's family from Azerbaijan, assigned Guliyev a "test mission" to photograph a tourism office near the Moldovan embassy in Tel Aviv. Guliyev received 0 for this initial task. From that point on, the defendants were assigned numerous tasks, which Guliyev carried out either alone or with his wife, under the guidance of foreign agents. For these activities, the couple received approximately ,000 in cryptocurrency from the Iranian handlers.
Regret and Remorse: The Defendants' Conflicting Narratives
During the investigation, Lala Guliyev, who doesn't speak Hebrew, claimed that she was unaware of her husband's actions, stating, "I don't know what my husband did or why he took pictures without my understanding." However, investigators assert that she was fully aware of the purpose behind photographing security-sensitive sites across Israel and the source of the money they received.In contrast, Rafael Guliyev admitted to receiving instructions from his Iranian handler and acknowledged the gravity of his actions, saying, "Today I understand that my actions could have harmed the country I love. I deeply regret it. I've been in this country for 25 years and I love it. I didn't mean to harm the country; I was tempted by easy money." He claimed that he thought he could "trick the Iranians" and only took "mock photos."
Uncovering the Extent of the Espionage Plot
The investigation revealed that the Iranian intelligence handler was well-acquainted with Israel and its sensitive and strategic facilities. While Guliyev admitted to taking the photos, he claimed that he didn't photograph exactly what the handler had requested, believing he was "smarter than the Iranian." However, the Iranian handler later requested bolder actions, such as setting cars on fire and even inquiring about Guliyev's willingness to kill someone, to which the defendant responded, "I don't."Investigators suspect that the Iranian handlers were involved in other cases leading to indictments against Israelis for espionage on behalf of Iran, indicating a broader network of espionage activities targeting the Jewish state.
