Iranian death squads a new source of fear in Europe

Aya Ezz

Europe has never been immune from the terrorism, which is hitting everywhere in the world.

European states were the scene of several terrorist operations. The Iranian regime also targeted opposition figures in Europe.

A number of Iranian espionage networks were also discovered in Europe. The networks mainly worked in gathering information. This was why Europe started taking a new course in its relations with Iran.

Iran has an extended history in supporting terrorist groups, arming militias and executing innocent people without trials.

Nevertheless, the assassinations carried out by the regime against Iranian opposition figures in Europe have recently turned into a problematic issue for European governments.

Western concerns

The Iranian regime has moved its assassination command centre to the Balkans in one serious attempt to return to the heart of the European continent, according to media reports.

The German newspaper, Suddeutsche Zeitung, revealed recently that together with terrorism, Iran had turned into the greatest source of worry for Europeans. Iran, the newspaper said, had sent death squads to kill Iranian political opponents in European states.

In the period between 1979 and 1994, Iran carried out 60 assassination attempts against opposition figures, according to the Central Intelligence Agency.

Suddeutsche Zeitung asked in its report about whether assassinations were still a state policy for the current Iranian regime.

Worries are creeping towards European capitals and especially the office of the German chancellor after the emergence of information about Iran sending death squads to killing political opponents in Europe, the newspaper said.

It said European intelligence services treat this as just the beginning and that Iran would start a new wave of security threats against Europe.

Spying network

The Iranian death and intelligence squad has been operating in Europe since 1979 without interruption. Iranian terrorist started soon after the mullahs mounted the saddle of this country in 1979.

Three European intelligence services have recently revealed that Iran had tried to blow up the center where Iranian opposition figures held a conference in Paris.

Investigations by French, German and Austrian intelligence showed that an advisor at the Iranian embassy in Vienna was connected with the attempted bombing of the center.

European sanctions

The European Union had to impose sanctions on the Iranian intelligence as well as Iranian officials against the background of infringements they committed last year, including the assassination of an opposition journalist in Denmark.

Danish Foreign Minister Anders Samuelsen praised the move. He described the day on which the sanctions were imposed as an important day for European foreign policy.

European analysts say, meanwhile, that the sanctions are a strong slap on the face for the Iranian regime.