Recent revelations about Iran’s covert assassination attempts on European soil have exposed a troubling dimension of Tehran’s extraterritorial operations. The Dutch intelligence agency (AIVD) publicly accused Iran of orchestrating two assassination attempts in the Netherlands and Spain, prompting the Dutch government to summon the Iranian ambassador. These developments have sparked calls from a Dutch Member of Parliament for urgent United Nations intervention to address Iran’s use of criminal proxies for targeted killings in Europe. This analysis examines the background, modus operandi, geopolitical implications, and international responses to Iran’s assassination campaign, highlighting its relevance to global security and governance.
Iran’s Assassination Attempts in Europe: Facts and Context
In 2024, two assassination attempts linked to Iran unfolded in Europe. The first occurred in November 2023 in Madrid, targeting Dr. Alejo Vidal-Quadras, a former Vice President of the European Parliament and vocal critic of the Iranian regime. The second took place in June 2024 in Haarlem, Netherlands, targeting an exiled Iranian dissident. Dutch intelligence concluded that Tehran was “likely” behind both plots, which involved multiple suspects arrested on European soil. One of the arrested men in the Netherlands was also implicated in the Madrid attempt.
These attacks fit a long-established pattern of Iranian extraterritorial operations aimed at silencing dissidents and critics abroad. The Dutch General Intelligence and Security Service (AIVD) stated,
“The two assassination attempts fit into the modus operandi that Iran has been using for years: using criminal networks in Europe to silence purported opponents of the regime”.
Dr. Vidal-Quadras survived the Madrid attack and publicly accused Tehran of attempting to silence him due to his outspoken support for Iranian resistance groups such as the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) and the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK. These attempts underscore the ongoing threat posed by Iran’s intelligence services beyond its borders.
The Criminal Nexus: Iran’s Use of Proxy Networks in Europe
Iran’s assassination strategy has evolved significantly over the past decade. Rather than relying solely on direct operatives, Tehran increasingly employs criminal networks and local proxies to conduct surveillance, intimidation, and assassinations. This approach provides Tehran plausible deniability and complicates law enforcement efforts.
A detailed report by the International Centre for Counter-Terrorism (ICCT) highlights how Iranian intelligence agencies, including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS), have systematically recruited European criminals, including drug traffickers and gang members, to carry out operations. For example, French domestic intelligence (DGSI) revealed that Iranian services paid European criminals to photograph targets’ residences in cities like Munich, Paris, and Berlin4.
The ICCT noted, “The Iranian services have adapted their modus operandi and now more systematically prefer to use people from criminal circles” (DGSI, 2024). This shift followed a foiled 2018 bomb plot outside Paris, which led to the arrest of an Iranian diplomat. Since then, Iran has sought to distance itself from direct involvement by outsourcing attacks to criminal intermediaries, reducing exposure and increasing operational security.
Broader Iranian Hybrid Threats in Europe
Iran’s hybrid threat network in Europe extends beyond assassinations. Investigations in Sweden uncovered a deal between Iran and Rawa Majid, leader of the Foxtrot crime organization, to deploy his gang against Israeli targets across Europe, including kidnappings and murders. This network has orchestrated grenade attacks near Israeli embassies in Stockholm and Brussels, shootings, and bombings targeting Israeli defense contractors and Jewish community centers.
A June 2025 report from Germany’s Ministry of Interior warned that Iranian intelligence services remain highly active in Europe, prepared to use “all means – including acts of violence and even assassinations” to pursue Tehran’s interests. These activities represent a multifaceted threat combining state intelligence, organized crime, and proxy militias, challenging European security frameworks.
High-Profile Targets and Iranian Countermeasures
Iran itself has suffered significant losses due to targeted assassinations by Israeli intelligence. In 2025, several high-ranking Iranian military and intelligence officials were killed in Israeli strikes, including Major General Mohammad Bagheri and IRGC Commander-in-Chief General Hossein Salami. These assassinations have prompted Tehran to reorganize its military command and prepare successors, with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei reportedly sheltering in a bunker and communicating through trusted aides to avoid detection.
Despite these setbacks, Iran continues to conduct retaliatory operations, including drone attacks on Israel and attempts to target dissidents abroad. A recent report revealed that Iran nearly succeeded in assassinating former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in Europe in 2022, illustrating Tehran’s global reach.
Calls for International Action: Dutch MP’s Demand for UN Intervention
In response to the assassination attempts in Europe, a Dutch Member of Parliament has called for urgent United Nations action. The MP emphasized that Iran’s use of criminal proxies to conduct extraterritorial assassinations violates international law and threatens European sovereignty.
He stated,
“Iran’s blatant disregard for sovereignty and its reliance on criminal networks to conduct assassinations on European soil demand a coordinated international response. The UN must take decisive steps to hold Tehran accountable and prevent further destabilization”
Dutch MP, 2025).
This call reflects growing concern among European governments about Iran’s hybrid tactics and the challenge they pose to security and governance. The MP’s appeal aligns with the need for enhanced intelligence sharing, legal frameworks, and diplomatic pressure to counter Iran’s extrajudicial killings.
European and Global Responses to Iranian Operations
European countries have responded by summoning Iranian diplomats, imposing sanctions, and increasing surveillance on suspected operatives. The Netherlands’ summoning of the Iranian ambassador following the AIVD report is part of a broader diplomatic pushback. Intelligence cooperation among European agencies has intensified, though the diffuse nature of Iran’s proxy networks complicates efforts.
The United Kingdom’s MI5 Director General reported at least twenty Iranian-backed plots targeting UK citizens since 2022, many involving criminal proxies. Similarly, Germany and France have uncovered Iranian agents employing criminals for surveillance and attacks on Jewish communities.
On the global stage, the United States continues to monitor and disrupt Iranian plots, including the near-assassination of Mike Pompeo. These efforts underscore the importance of transatlantic cooperation in addressing Iran’s extraterritorial threats.
Implications for International Security and Governance
Iran’s assassination campaign in Europe represents a serious challenge to international norms, including respect for sovereignty and the protection of dissidents. The use of criminal proxies blurs the lines between state and non-state actors, complicating attribution and response.
The Dutch MP’s call for UN intervention highlights the need for a coordinated multilateral framework to address such hybrid threats. Strengthening international legal mechanisms, enhancing intelligence cooperation, and holding violators accountable are essential to preserving global security and the rule of law.
Moreover, these developments have humanitarian implications. Targeted killings of dissidents and journalists undermine freedom of expression and civil society, which are critical for democratic governance and human rights.
Iran’s use of criminal networks to conduct assassination attempts in Europe exposes a dangerous escalation in Tehran’s extraterritorial operations. The Dutch intelligence agency’s findings and the subsequent diplomatic fallout underscore the urgency of a coordinated international response.
“Iran’s blatant disregard for sovereignty and its reliance on criminal networks to conduct assassinations on European soil demand a coordinated international response,”
the Dutch MP asserted, calling on the UN to act decisively (Dutch MP, 2025).
As Iran continues to adapt its tactics and expand its reach, the global community must prioritize intelligence sharing, legal accountability, and diplomatic pressure to prevent further destabilization and uphold international norms.
