<\/p>\n
\u2018Germany should beware of Iran\u2019s threats and agenda\u2019 is the title of an informative article by Dr. Majid Rafizadeh president of the International American Council, in which he warns about the less – noticed menaces of the Iranian regime\u2019s activities in Europe, the full text of this article is as follows:<\/p>\n
Iran\u2019s expanding influence and interventions in the Middle East are well-documented and known to policy analysts, politicians and scholars. Yet little scholarly work has been conducted on Tehran\u2019s activities and policy toward Germany. Since the nuclear deal, Germany has boosted trade and business with Iran, and unlike France, is underestimating Tehran\u2019s ballistic missiles threats.<\/p>\n
Germany should realize that the administration of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani is a facade of diplomacy and democracy. The true face of the regime is the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), its militias and Iran\u2019s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. They are the main beneficiaries of increased German trade and appeasement, with serious implications for the region, and for Germany\u2019s long-term national interests and security.<\/p>\n
Tehran\u2019s modus operandi is to deceive foreign governments by recruiting foreign third parties to operate covertly on its behalf. According to a recent report by German newspaper Bild, Germany decided to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars to a pro-Tehran Shiite umbrella organization.<\/p>\n
The report indicates that this funding, which is provided by the EU\u2019s Internal Security Fund and administrated by Germany\u2019s federal criminal agency, is aimed at countering extremism and promoting de-radicalization. Berlin appears not to have examined the interconnectedness between Tehran and some pro-Iran domestic groups that operate under various disguises.
\nExporting its extremist religious thoughts is not the only avenue that Tehran uses to damage Germany\u2019s national security. It has also been actively targeting German firms in order to run counterfeiting operations and skirt global financial norms that safeguard financial infrastructures.<\/p>\n
Recently, the IRGC was found responsible for using German firms in an elaborate counterfeit currency scheme. The scheme provided Yemeni banks with currency potentially worth hundreds of millions of dollars for the IRGC\u2019s Quds Force and its militias in Yemen.<\/p>\n
The US Treasury Department imposed sanctions on the German firms, saying they were used as \u201cfront companies to deceive European suppliers, circumvent export restrictions, and acquire advanced printing machinery, security printing machinery, and raw materials\u201d to facilitate the counterfeit currency scheme.<\/p>\n
In addition, since the nuclear deal was implemented, Iran has been trying to induce German firms to supply it with illicit technology that can be used to advance its military nuclear and ballistic missile programs. These attempts are violations of the nuclear deal and UN Resolution 2231.<\/p>\n
According to three German intelligence reports, in 2016 Tehran made \u201c32 procurement attempts\u2026 that definitely or with high likelihood were undertaken for the benefit of proliferation programs.\u201d Numerous attempts were made in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia. This year so far, 141 attempts have been recorded of Iran trying to obtain illicit goods for the sole purpose of proliferation.<\/p>\n
Tehran tries to circumvent international restrictions on its nuclear and missile programs through third parties, specifically targeting German firms because it believes this will attract less suspicion, investigation and global media attention. Germany ought to reconsider its policy toward Iran.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Dr. Majid Rafizadeh is a Harvard-educated Iranian-American political scientist. He is a leading expert on Iran and US foreign policy, a businessman and president of the International American Council. He serves on the boards of the Harvard International Review, the Harvard International Relations Council and the US-Middle East Chamber for Commerce and Business.<\/p>\n
Source: Arab News<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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