The Iranian regime is under increasing scrutiny following allegations of orchestrating attacks on dissidents across Europe. According to reports published by El Periódico on April 7, 2025, European authorities are investigating potential links between the clerical regime in Tehran and the attempted assassination of Alejo Vidal-Quadras, founder of the Vox party and former Vice President of the European Parliament.
The El Periódico reports indicate that the investigation into the November 9, 2023, shooting of Dr. Vidal-Quadras at his residence in Madrid has now expanded to include France, Italy, and the Netherlands. Spanish Judge Santiago Pedraz has cited Vidal-Quadras to testify as a victim on April 15. Authorities from Paris and Amsterdam have submitted documentation to the Spanish National Court, outlining the involvement of various suspects tied to the assassination attempt.
In an interview, Dr. Vidal-Quadras directly accused the Iranian regime of orchestrating the attack, attributing his inclusion on Tehran’s so-called “blacklist” to his outspoken support for the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI). He stated, “I have no doubt it was the Iranian regime that ordered my assassination.” Dr. Vidal-Quadras asserted that the regime is actively targeting dissidents abroad due to its insecurity over growing domestic opposition.
Maryam Rajavi's speech – Conference in the Italian Senate
On Tuesday, 5 March 2024, a number of Italian senators and deputies attended a conference on the situation of the Iranian regime and the role of the Iranian resistance.Mrs Maryam Rajavi appeared online and gave the… pic.twitter.com/mHyg3jScgb
— Firouz Mahvi (@FirouzMahvi) March 6, 2024
According to El Periódico, multiple suspects linked to the attempt on Dr. Vidal-Quadras’s life have been apprehended. The primary suspect, Mehrez Ayari, was arrested by Dutch authorities in June 2024 while preparing to assassinate an Iranian dissident journalist living in Haarlem. His accomplices included Sami Bekal, a Moroccan national identified as the mastermind behind the attack, and several others arrested across Europe.
Additionally, the French Police have reported incidents where individuals linked to organized crime groups attacked the headquarters of NCRI-affiliated organizations. In May and June 2023, gunshots were fired at the CIMA office in Saint-Ouen-l’Aumône, France, with attempts to burn the building. Although the suspects were arrested, the French police have not conclusively linked them to the Iranian regime, describing them as hired criminals rather than direct operatives.
Italian authorities are also investigating links between these groups and the Iranian regime. During a police raid in the Netherlands, investigators discovered nearly €26,000 in cash at the residence of Chahinez Kadid, the former girlfriend of Sami Bekal, suspected of coordinating travel and logistics for the attackers.
On Nov 8, top European & global figures joined an online conference to mark 1 year since the failed assassination attempt on Prof. Alejo Vidal-Quadras. Hosted by @isjcommittee, speakers called for a new EU policy to confront #Iran's rising terrorism in #Europe. pic.twitter.com/9qM8o7sI7W
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) November 19, 2024
The El Periódico report notes that the Iranian regime has used a network of hired operatives and mafia members to carry out these attacks, concealing its involvement through criminal intermediaries. The NCRI has long been a target of Tehran’s malign operations due to its active opposition and organized resistance against the regime.
European authorities continue their investigations, aiming to uncover the full extent of the regime’s influence over these attacks. Dr. Vidal-Quadras, who survived the shooting after a passerby helped stem the bleeding from his jaw, remains a vocal advocate against the clerical regime.
According to El Periódico, the ongoing investigation aims to establish direct connections between the Iranian regime and the attacks, with more information expected following Dr. Vidal-Quadras’s testimony on April 15.
The report highlights the clerical regime’s increasing desperation as it struggles with mounting domestic unrest. Despite its attempts to portray strength abroad, the regime’s involvement in targeting dissidents only reveals its underlying weakness and fear of organized resistance.