More than a dozen Western countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, and France, have issued a joint statement criticizing Iran’s intelligence services for their alleged attempts to kill, kidnap, and harass foreign citizens. The nations emphasized that such actions violate national sovereignty and called for an end to the activities, which have targeted dissidents, journalists, and former officials across Europe and North America.
The statement, backed by over a dozen nations, including Albania, Austria, Belgium, and Spain, highlights the growing concern over Iran’s alleged involvement in plots against foreign citizens. The nations warned that Iran’s intelligence services are working with criminal networks abroad to carry out these attacks, which have included high-profile targets such as journalists, diplomats, and political figures. The statement also noted the recent rise in reports of such activities following the Israeli-U.S. strikes on Iran last month.
In addition to the condemnation, the statement serves as an alert to citizens in Europe and North America of the potential risks posed by Iran’s hostile activities. The warning comes as tensions remain high following the recent strikes, which have intensified the already volatile relationship between the U.S., Iran, and its allies. Reports suggest that Iran has been increasing its covert operations to target foreign citizens, with several incidents reported in the U.S. and the U.K. over the past few years.
One such incident involved the attempted assassination of former presidential candidate Donald Trump, which was linked to Iran. The U.S. has also seen an increase in Iranian-backed plots targeting journalists and activists, particularly in the wake of the 2022 mass protests that followed the death of Mahsa Amini. Despite these allegations, Tehran has consistently denied its involvement in the murder-for-hire and abduction plots, maintaining that such actions are the work of other groups operating independently from the Iranian government.
The U.K. has reported more than 20 incidents since 2022 of Iran-linked plots to kill or kidnap British nationals or individuals on British soil. Most of these incidents involved Iranian dissidents, raising further concerns about the reach of Iranian intelligence in Western countries. The joint statement from the Western nations represents a coordinated effort to address these allegations and deter further Iranian interference in their national affairs.