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Die wachsende Bedrohung Europas durch die Islamische Republik Iran

Khoshnood, Ardavan M. LU orcid (2026) In Iran im Diskurs p.30-37
Abstract
Iran’s extraterritorial violence constitutes a structural element of state policy, implemented through a coordinated system of intelligence services, diplomatic platforms, proxy militias, and criminal intermediaries. Rooted in revolutionary doctrine and operationalized by institutions such as the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and its external arm, the Quds Force, this apparatus has enabled assassinations, bombings, and intimidation campaigns abroad for decades—from the aftermath of the Mykonos trial to the AMIA bombing in Buenos Aires.

The Iranian uprising of 2025–2026—marked by mass repression and open calls for regime change under the leadership of Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi—has intensified Tehran’s perception of an... (More)
Iran’s extraterritorial violence constitutes a structural element of state policy, implemented through a coordinated system of intelligence services, diplomatic platforms, proxy militias, and criminal intermediaries. Rooted in revolutionary doctrine and operationalized by institutions such as the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and its external arm, the Quds Force, this apparatus has enabled assassinations, bombings, and intimidation campaigns abroad for decades—from the aftermath of the Mykonos trial to the AMIA bombing in Buenos Aires.

The Iranian uprising of 2025–2026—marked by mass repression and open calls for regime change under the leadership of Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi—has intensified Tehran’s perception of an existential threat and accelerated transnational repression in Europe. Recent cases indicate a shift toward gray-zone tactics, including the targeted recruitment of European criminal networks and an expansion of reputation-based influence operations.

Drawing on recent investigations and intelligence assessments, this study demonstrates how the Islamic Republic strategically integrates terrorism, organized crime, and coercive diplomacy to suppress diaspora mobilization. It concludes that Europe is not facing isolated incidents, but a systematic campaign, and outlines policy countermeasures. These include integrated intelligence defenses, targeted financial disruption of Iranian-directed networks, restrictive diplomatic measures, and the consistent application of national criminal law instruments in the field of state security offenses. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
organization
alternative title
The Growing Threat to Europe from the Islamic Republic of Iran
publishing date
type
Contribution to specialist publication or newspaper
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Iran, Terrorism, Islamic Republic of Iran, Espionage, Iran, Terrorism, Islamiska republiken Iran, Spionering
categories
Popular Science
in
Iran im Diskurs
issue
6
pages
30 - 37
ISSN
2944-7925
project
The Intelligence Apparatus of the Islamic Republic of Iran
language
German
LU publication?
yes
id
68b3e3df-39dc-40cc-a50e-4ae5f71d0c73
alternative location
https://irandiskurs.de/nr-6-winter-2025-26/
date added to LUP
2026-03-02 01:33:01
date last changed
2026-03-02 08:52:52
@misc{68b3e3df-39dc-40cc-a50e-4ae5f71d0c73,
  abstract     = {{Iran’s extraterritorial violence constitutes a structural element of state policy, implemented through a coordinated system of intelligence services, diplomatic platforms, proxy militias, and criminal intermediaries. Rooted in revolutionary doctrine and operationalized by institutions such as the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and its external arm, the Quds Force, this apparatus has enabled assassinations, bombings, and intimidation campaigns abroad for decades—from the aftermath of the Mykonos trial to the AMIA bombing in Buenos Aires.<br/><br/>The Iranian uprising of 2025–2026—marked by mass repression and open calls for regime change under the leadership of Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi—has intensified Tehran’s perception of an existential threat and accelerated transnational repression in Europe. Recent cases indicate a shift toward gray-zone tactics, including the targeted recruitment of European criminal networks and an expansion of reputation-based influence operations.<br/><br/>Drawing on recent investigations and intelligence assessments, this study demonstrates how the Islamic Republic strategically integrates terrorism, organized crime, and coercive diplomacy to suppress diaspora mobilization. It concludes that Europe is not facing isolated incidents, but a systematic campaign, and outlines policy countermeasures. These include integrated intelligence defenses, targeted financial disruption of Iranian-directed networks, restrictive diplomatic measures, and the consistent application of national criminal law instruments in the field of state security offenses.}},
  author       = {{Khoshnood, Ardavan M.}},
  issn         = {{2944-7925}},
  keywords     = {{Iran; Terrorism; Islamic Republic of Iran; Espionage; Iran; Terrorism; Islamiska republiken Iran; Spionering}},
  language     = {{ger}},
  month        = {{02}},
  number       = {{6}},
  pages        = {{30--37}},
  series       = {{Iran im Diskurs}},
  title        = {{Die wachsende Bedrohung Europas durch die Islamische Republik Iran}},
  url          = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/243646283/Iran-Europe-Threat.pdf}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}