Iran’s embassies in Europe

Terrorism & Espionage

ran has long been accused of engaging in terrorist activities and espionage in various countries around the world, including Norway. Recent incidents have highlighted Iran’s alleged involvement in such activities and raised concerns about the country’s impact on global and regional stability.

One of the key concerns is the role of Iran’s embassies in carrying out these activities. Diplomatic missions are supposed to serve as channels for peaceful communication between countries, but in the case of Iran, they have been accused of serving as a cover for intelligence gathering and other nefarious activities.

The Cost of Revolution: Violence and Terror 

The rise of the Islamic Revolution in Iran in 1979 was marked by violence, bloodshed, and terror from the very beginning. The revolution was led by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, who called for the overthrow of the ruling monarchy and the establishment of an Islamic state.

Mass demonstrations and protests erupted across the country, with clashes between protesters and security forces leading to numerous deaths and injuries. The Shah’s government responded with brutal crackdowns on dissent, including mass arrests, torture, and executions.

The Islamic Revolution in Iran was a turning point in the country’s history

After the revolution succeeded and Khomeini assumed power, he oversaw the establishment of a theocratic government that enforced strict Islamic law and cracked down on political opposition. The new government carried out a wave of executions and purges, targeting anyone deemed a threat to the new regime.

The Islamic Revolution in Iran was a turning point in the country’s history, but its rise was accompanied by significant bloodshed and terror. The legacy of this period continues to shape Iranian politics and society today. 

 The legacy of the revolution has left an indelible mark on Iran’s foreign policy

Terrorism and Instability Beyond Borders.

The Islamic Revolution in Iran had far-reaching consequences beyond the country’s borders, particularly in Europe. The Iranian regime’s support for militant groups and its use of its embassies as cover for espionage and terrorist activities have contributed to a climate of fear and distrust in the international community. Iran has been accused of carrying out numerous terrorist attacks on European soil, including the 1984 bombing of a French cultural center in Beirut and the 1994 bombing of a Jewish community center in Buenos Aires, which was allegedly planned and carried out by Iranian agents. More recently, Iranian operatives have been arrested in Europe for alleged espionage and terrorist activities, including the attempted bombing of a rally in Paris in 2018. The legacy of the revolution has left an indelible mark on Iran’s foreign policy and its relationships with other nations, with ongoing concerns about the potential for the country’s extremist ideology to spread beyond its borders and destabilize the region and the world.

Europe: field for Iran’s hostility and espionage

In October 2018, Mohammad Davoudzadeh Loloei, a 40-year-old Norwegian of Iranian descent, was apprehended following a large-scale police operation that resulted in Denmark temporarily shutting its international borders. According to a statement by Roskilde District Court, Loloei spent several days in late September that year observing and photographing the home of an Iranian expatriate in Denmark, as well as the surrounding streets and roads. The court determined that this information was gathered and transmitted to an individual employed by an Iranian intelligence agency, with the intention of facilitating the agency’s plot to assassinate the expatriate.

In April 2020, A former professor at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), whose identity has been withheld, has been charged with bringing in four Iranian visitors as researchers without the knowledge of the university administration. The professor, who holds German citizenship and is of Iranian heritage, ensured that the Iranian visitors had access to laboratories that contained, among other equipment, a “Scanning Electron Microscope” (SEM), which is among the materials and equipment that are restricted from being exported to Iran due to international sanctions. Training individuals from Iran to use this equipment is also prohibited by the sanctions. The professor also attempted to install “TeamViewer” software that permits remote access to a computer in the nanomechanical laboratory. The computer was connected to an additional piece of equipment for the “SEM” called “EBSD”. According to the indictment, one of the Iranian visitors would have retrieved the data stored remotely if the scheme had been successful, which would have contributed to Iran’s military capability.

Diplomat carrying out terrorist activities 

Assadollah Assadi, a 49-year-old Iranian diplomat who served at the Iranian embassy in Vienna, has been sentenced to 20 years in jail by a court in Antwerp, Belgium. He was arrested in 2018 on suspicion of being involved in a plot to bomb a rally organized by the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) in Paris. The NCRI is an opposition group to the Iranian government, and the rally was attended by several high-profile figures, including US politicians. This was the first time that an Iranian official had faced such charges in the EU since the 1979 revolution. Three others were also convicted in connection with the plot and were apprehended during a joint operation by police in Germany, France, and Belgium.

The Ahl Al-bayt foundation plays an active role in recruiting volunteers for both domestic and foreign operations

Religious establishments and recruitment of activists and volunteers

Iran has a long history of using religious establishments to recruit volunteers for various causes, including military operations and political activism. One such establishment is Ahl Al-bayt, which is considered to be the most prominent center of Shia learning and scholarship in Iran. The Ahl Al-bayt foundation plays an active role in recruiting volunteers for both domestic and foreign operations, including the Syrian civil war. The foundation offers a variety of incentives to attract volunteers, such as financial rewards, educational opportunities, and spiritual benefits. Through these efforts, Iran has been able to recruit a significant number of volunteers to fight alongside its proxies in various conflicts, furthering its strategic interests in the region.

It remains to be seen how the international community will respond to these challenges

The Islamic Revolution in Iran has left a lasting impact on the country and its relationships with other nations. The regime’s alleged involvement in terrorist activities and espionage has created a climate of fear and distrust in the international community, with concerns about the potential for Iran’s extremist ideology to spread beyond its borders and destabilize the region and the world. The role of Iran’s embassies in carrying out these activities has raised questions about the purpose of diplomatic missions and their supposed function as channels for peaceful communication between countries. Recent incidents, including the arrest and conviction of an Iranian diplomat in Europe, have highlighted the ongoing threat posed by Iran’s actions. It remains to be seen how the international community will respond to these challenges and what the future holds for Iran’s relationships with other nations.

Considering all of that, it is crucial that immediate action is taken to address this pressing issue. European governments must take a firm stand and close down all of Iran’s embassies in their respective nations. Furthermore, imposing additional sanctions on Iran is necessary to discourage the regime from carrying out such activities.