Iran draws on drugs to blackmail Europe

Ali Ragab

The drug trafficking is one of key resources of funding for armed militias and terrorist groups in the region. The illicit business is also one of the tools used by totalitarian regimes and dictatorships in dealing with other countries. The Iranian regime, led by Supreme Guide Ali Khamenei, knows how to play this game very well.

Head of Iran’s Anti-Narcotics Police Mohammad Massoud Zahedian made the remarks in criticism of what he called the West’s lack of cooperation in Iran’s fight against drugs.

Zahedian said Europe should contribute to the fight against narcotics and if there is no contribution in supporting the forces and countries that are at the forefront of the struggle, they must rest assured that their people will be at risk.

Zahedian added that Europeans are the main users of synthetic drugs produced in Afghanistan, citing that 3 tons of synthetic drugs were seized near the border with Afghanistan.

He said the materials used for producing synthetic drugs are brought from Afghanistan, and that raises concerns that this may happen with the help of intelligence services of foreign countries.

Earlier, Iranian officials, including President Hassan Rouhani, said Iran would do less to block migrants and drugs from entering Europe.

Rouhani warned the West that targeting Iran with sanctions and undermining and disrupting the Iranian economy would have catastrophic consequences for Europe.

A study on conduct of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said that the IRGC has been meddling in the affairs of all 14 Muslim and European countries.

The study was conducted by the European Iraqi Freedom Association (EIFA) and International Committee In Search of Justice (ISJ).

The study concluded that Resolution 2231 of the UN Security Council should be enforced and in particular stopping the Iranian regime’s missile activities and its smuggling of weapons to other countries.

A 2012 US congressional report exposed Iran and Hezbollah’s links to drug-trafficking gangs in Mexico in the wake of investigations made with Iranian Mansour Arbabsiar.

In a secret telegram sent by the US embassy in the Baku, Azerbaijan, on June 12, 2009 and published by WikiLeaks in January 2016, US diplomats said that Iran is considered one of the world’s biggest drug trafficking country as it is the world’s largest buyer of Afghan opium. The diplomats said that 95% of the heroin smuggled into Europe comes from Iran via Azerbaijan.