Grayzone

Uber CEO plots ‘opening up’ of Iran with Israeli-tied monarchist opposition group

Washington Post

Iran turns to Hells Angels and other criminal gangs to target critics

Associated Press

Stockholm accuses Iran of using criminals in Sweden to target Israel or Jewish interests

Metaculus

Which of these nations will experience a successful coup d'etat before 2040?

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According to recent Western intelligence reports, Iran has been recruiting individuals from global criminal circles for attacks abroad, as evidenced by recent cases in Germany and France, where Iranian agents hired European criminals to conduct surveillance of Jewish targets.

BBC News

Icct

According to recent Western intelligence reports, Iran has been recruiting individuals from global criminal circles for attacks abroad, as evidenced by recent cases in Germany and France, where Iranian agents hired European criminals to conduct surveillance of Jewish targets.

This follows a 2024 British intelligence report alleging 20 Iranian-backed plots targeting UK citizens since January 2022, with Iranian state actors increasingly utilizing criminal networks ranging from international drug traffickers to local criminals as proxies.

This follows a 2024 British intelligence report alleging 20 Iranian-backed plots targeting UK citizens since January 2022, with Iranian state actors increasingly utilizing criminal networks ranging from international drug traffickers to local criminals as proxies.

Swedish and Israeli investigators have linked recent attacks on Israeli embassies in Stockholm and Copenhagen to the Foxtrot crime syndicate, demonstrating Iran's growing reliance on organized crime groups for international operations.</span

Tamhussein

Swedish and Israeli investigators have linked recent attacks on Israeli embassies in Stockholm and Copenhagen to the Foxtrot crime syndicate, demonstrating Iran's growing reliance on organized crime groups for international operations.

The Iranian regime has reportedly established connections with various criminal organizations, including the Kinahan cartel, Japanese Yakuza, and Eastern European mafia groups, using them for activities ranging from assassination attempts to sanctions evasion.

Digi24

The Iranian regime has reportedly established connections with various criminal organizations, including the Kinahan cartel, Japanese Yakuza, and Eastern European mafia groups, using them for activities ranging from assassination attempts to sanctions evasion.

Western intelligence reports also allege increased connections between Iran and groups such as Foxtrot, Hells Angels, and Rumba to carry out attacks on Israeli and Jewish targets across Europe, with several recent incidents documented in Sweden and Belgium.

Western intelligence reports also allege increased connections between Iran and groups such as Foxtrot, Hells Angels, and Rumba to carry out attacks on Israeli and Jewish targets across Europe, with several recent incidents documented in Sweden and Belgium.

This comes as U.S. and European lawmakers, alongside the American Jewish Committee, recently called for designating the Iranian military (IRGC) as a terror group, as well as reports that Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi, in conjunction with the Iranian monarchist group NUFDI, has presented plans for economic gains post-regime change in Iran.

This comes as U.S. and European lawmakers, alongside the American Jewish Committee, recently called for designating the Iranian military (IRGC) as a terror group, as well as reports that Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi, in conjunction with the Iranian monarchist group NUFDI, has presented plans for economic gains post-regime change in Iran.

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The Iranian regime's weaponization of criminal networks represents a sophisticated evolution in state-sponsored terrorism that demands immediate and decisive action. These operations pose an unprecedented threat to global security, targeting dissidents, journalists, and Jewish communities worldwide while providing Iran with plausible deniability.

The Iranian regime's weaponization of criminal networks represents a sophisticated evolution in state-sponsored terrorism that demands immediate and decisive action. These operations pose an unprecedented threat to global security, targeting dissidents, journalists, and Jewish communities worldwide while providing Iran with plausible deniability.

Iran using criminal gangs for hit jobs abroad, court papers show

Iranian External Operations in Europe: The Criminal Connection

The focus on Iran's use of criminal networks may be overblown and risks escalating tensions unnecessarily. Many of these allegations remain unproven, and aggressive measures like sanctions or military options could destabilize the region while pushing Iran further toward unconventional warfare tactics.

The focus on Iran's use of criminal networks may be overblown and risks escalating tensions unnecessarily. Many of these allegations remain unproven, and aggressive measures like sanctions or military options could destabilize the region while pushing Iran further toward unconventional warfare tactics.

AJCs Transatlantic Friends of Israel Calls for Transatlantic Strategy on Iran

How Iran Is Weaponizing Europes Criminal Underworld

The US-Iran Conflict

Iran Weaponizes Crime Syndicates for Global Operations

Terrorism

Murders and attempted murders

Organized crime

Iran

These underground networks are dangerously sophisticated, allowing Iran to evade sanctions via drug trafficking and launch attacks in the West, particularly against dissidents and Israeli embassies. To end their impunity, enabled by Tehran's proxy strategy, these groups must be designated as Foreign Terrorist Organizations to disrupt Iran's global terror operations threatening U.S. and European security.

These underground networks are dangerously sophisticated, allowing Iran to evade sanctions via drug trafficking and launch attacks in the West, particularly against dissidents and Israeli embassies. To end their impunity, enabled by Tehran's proxy strategy, these groups must be designated as Foreign Terrorist Organizations to disrupt Iran's global terror operations threatening U.S. and European security.

Atlantic Council

The case for designating Iran-linked crime networks as FTOs

Irans Ties To Western Organized Crime Networks

The U.S. has long outpaced Iran in criminal gang ties, from WWII Mafia deals to Contra-era cartels, fueling global unrest. Regarding Iran specifically, it was an illegal U.S.-U.K. coup in 1953 that ousted Iran's democratic government, sowing distrust that shapes its defiance today. U.S. and Israeli regime-change threats continue today, which shows Tehran's actions are defensive, not just aggressive.

The U.S. has long outpaced Iran in criminal gang ties, from WWII Mafia deals to Contra-era cartels, fueling global unrest. Regarding Iran specifically, it was an illegal U.S.-U.K. coup in 1953 that ousted Iran's democratic government, sowing distrust that shapes its defiance today. U.S. and Israeli regime-change threats continue today, which shows Tehran's actions are defensive, not just aggressive.

Middle East Eye

Iran and the US: When friends fall out

Malone

Drugs as Weapons of War: The US CIA and the Heroin Trade

There is a 33% chance that Iran will experience a successful coup d'etat before 2040, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

There is a 33% chance that Iran will experience a successful coup d'etat before 2040, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

Reports: Iran Weaponizes Crime Syndicates for Global Operations

Reports: Iran Weaponizes Crime Syndicates for Global Operations

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Reports: Iran Weaponizes Crime Syndicates for Global Operations

Reports: Iran Weaponizes Crime Syndicates for Global Operations

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