Teenager Charged with Spying for Iran Receives Over $1,000 in Cryptocurrency Payments

A 14-year-old Israeli boy has been charged with spying for Iran after allegedly carrying out tasks on their behalf in exchange for cryptocurrency payments.

The indictment alleges that the teenager sprayed graffiti reading 'We are committed to the alliance' in several locations around Tel Aviv, and filmed videos lasting several minutes in streets near Ichilov Hospital and in neighborhoods in Ramat Gan. He also recorded footage of the Tel Aviv skyline, including a description of the location of the Kirya military headquarters.

The suspect was asked to rent an apartment near the Kirya in Tel Aviv, which he did, sending a photo of an available apartment to his contact and communicating with several landlords whose properties met the requirements. He was also instructed to spray graffiti on the home of Foreign Minister Gideon Saar reading 'We will take revenge in turn! The children of Ruhollah,' but claimed he couldn't carry out the task because he was in school.

The minor opened four digital wallets and received a total of more than $1,170 as payment for completing the tasks. He was arrested in June after being questioned in the case, during which he allegedly tried to persuade a classmate to lie to investigators.