Iran uses criminal groups for attacks on exiled dissidents

In recent years, Iran has significantly escalated its foreign espionage activities, particularly following the protests triggered by the death of a woman in police custody in 2022. As Western nations intensified their scrutiny of Iranian operations, Tehran began collaborating with criminal organizations, including the Hells Angels, to carry out violent plots against exiled dissidents. Investigations revealed that at least five criminal syndicates have been enlisted to execute these operations, providing the Iranian government with plausible deniability. One notable incident involved a plot to bomb a synagogue in Essen, Germany, orchestrated by a member of the Hells Angels. Encrypted communications among the conspirators indicated a brutal intent, showcasing the violent nature of these operations. The mastermind behind many of these plots, Zindashti, transitioned from a drug lord to a key figure in Iran's assassination and abduction strategies, further complicating the landscape of international security. A study from the Washington Institute highlighted 88 violent plots linked to Iran over the past five years, with 14 involving criminal organizations. The year 2022 marked a peak in these activities, coinciding with widespread protests in Iran. The United Kingdom and the United States were notably targeted, with 18 and nine plots, respectively. Despite the mounting evidence, Iran has vehemently denied these allegations, attributing them to external forces and claiming they are fabrications aimed at diverting attention from other geopolitical issues. This denial underscores the ongoing tensions between Iran and Western nations, as well as the complexities of international espionage and security.