Iran's Assassination Plot Against Rabbi in Azerbaijan Foiled

Iran's Quds Force orchestrated an assassination plot against Rabbi Shneor Segal in Azerbaijan, employing Georgian drug trafficker Agil Aslanov as a hitman. The conspiracy, which was foiled by Azerbaijan's State Security Service in early January, involved plans to attack both the rabbi and a Jewish educational center, with Aslanov reportedly agreeing to the contract for $200,000. Two individuals were arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit a terrorist act, with Segal expressing his relief and safety in Azerbaijan despite the threat. This incident reflects a broader pattern of Iranian attempts to target Jewish and diaspora figures globally, particularly following the Hamas-led assault on Israel in October 2023. Iranian authorities are believed to have enlisted criminal proxies to maintain plausible deniability regarding such operations. Azerbaijan's strategic partnership with Israel has increasingly drawn hostility from Iran, which perceives this alliance as a threat to its influence in the region.