![\"Fears](\"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2018\/10\/Fears-That-Iran-Will-Attempt-to-Target-Europe-Again-After-Failed-Terrorist-Attack.png\" "\\"Fears-That-Iran-Will-Attempt-to-Target-Europe-Again-After-Failed-Terrorist-Attack\\"")
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By\u00a0Mahmoud Hakamian<\/p>\n
It was revealed a few months ago that an Iranian intelligence officer was behind a foiled terrorist plot in Europe. A Belgian couple of Iranian descent were recruited by Assadolah Assadi – a high-ranking diplomat in the Iranian embassy in Vienna. Assadi, a member of Iran\u2019s Ministry of Intelligence (MOIS), provided the couple with explosives and a detonator and instructed them to detonate the device in Paris outside the location of an opposition rally.<\/p>\n
Every year, the Iranian Resistance holds a large gathering in Paris. A wide-range of political figures, dignitaries, human rights activists, parliamentarians, and so on, gather to discuss how the \u201cFree Iran\u201d movement is progressing, what more can be done and the steps that are actively being taken. Tens of thousands of Iranians travel from all over the world to attend the event.<\/p>\n
Even thought the terror attack failed, there is increasing anxiety that another one could be imminent in Europe, the United States or Israel. It is believed that Iran is ramping up its intelligence activities with this aim.<\/p>\n
The Washington Post reported last week that experts in Europe, the United States and the Middle East believe that Iran is putting contingency plans into place to strike enemies in the case of conflict.<\/p>\n
Earlier this year, two Iranian men were charged with espionage by the U.S. Justice Department. They had been found to be gathering intelligence about Israeli and Jewish sites and had been passing information back to Iran about the MEK.<\/p>\n
It has also been reported that one of the largest Shiite institutions in France, which has links to Iran, has been raided by French authorities who subsequently arrested three people. Officials in France have named the MOIS as being involved with the foiled terror plot in Paris and an official statement highlighted the country\u2019s concern. Part of it read: \u201cThis extremely serious act envisaged on our territory could not go without a response. In taking this decision, France underlines its determination to fight against terrorism in all its forms, particularly on its own territory.\u201d<\/p>\n
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also said last week that the failed terror plot is indicative of Iran\u2019s intentions and shows that the regime is continuing to support terrorism in the West. President Trump\u2019s national security adviser John Bolton also spoke about the Iranian government\u2019s involvement in the plot. He said that the arrest of Assadi shows \u201ceverything you need to know about how the government of Iran views its responsibilities in connection with diplomatic relations\u201d.<\/p>\n
Iran remains the number one state sponsor of terrorism and there is no knowing how it will act in the future. It is becoming increasingly desperate because of the international and domestic pressure it is under.<\/p>\n
On the international front, Iran\u2019s economy is feeling the effects of the first round of sanctions that the United States re-imposed, and the next lot \u2013 due to take effect at the beginning of next month \u2013 will certainly make the situation even worse.<\/p>\n
Domestically, the Iranian regime is witnessing the people of Iran doing all that they can to achieve regime change.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
By Mahmoud Hakamian It was revealed a few months ago that an Iranian intelligence officer was behind a foiled terrorist plot in Europe. A Belgian couple of Iranian descent were recruited […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":52178,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[19],"tags":[178],"class_list":{"0":"post-25404","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-terrorism-a-fundamentalism","8":"tag-save"},"yoast_head":"\n