Is Germany increasingly targeted by Iranian intelligence?

Recent military actions by the United States and Israel against Iran have raised concerns about potential countermeasures in Germany. The country’s security agencies are intensifying their watch for Iranian intelligence operations. Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt, representing the CDU party, stated shortly after the initial strikes: “Our security authorities are closely monitoring the situation,” he said. While he described the threat as “abstract,” no concrete evidence of planned attacks has been confirmed yet.

Risks to Jewish Institutions and Diaspora

Following the attacks, the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV), Germany’s domestic intelligence agency, issued a warning about possible retaliation. A statement noted that “Jewish institutions, such as schools and synagogues, could be targets in any response,” according to the agency. Diplomatic missions and military installations may also face Iranian intelligence threats. Individuals linked to the Iranian opposition in Germany have been under surveillance for years, with some subjected to intimidation and kidnappings.

“Especially after the killing of Iranian revolutionary leader Ali Khamenei, we can expect Iran to use its networks in Germany to carry out attacks against Jewish and Israeli institutions,” said Felix Klein, the government’s antisemitism commissioner.

Experts Weigh In on Possible Threats

Marc Henrichmann, head of the Parliamentary Oversight Committee for Secret Services (PKGr) and a CDU member, echoed concerns about the Iranian regime’s readiness to act abroad. “The regime has consistently demonstrated its willingness to launch terrorist operations outside its borders,” he remarked in a Süddeutsche Zeitung interview. Despite this, he added that current security measures reduce the need for alarm.

Omid Nouripour, a Bundestag representative with Iranian roots and a former Green Party leader, remains vigilant. “The Iranians have long threatened to attack in Europe,” he told Phoenix TV. He worries that such threats could materialize now.

Protests and Transnational Reprisals

At the start of the year, German intelligence agencies had already focused on Iranian activities linked to the mass protests in Iran, which claimed thousands of lives. The BfV highlighted that Iranian intelligence employs tactics ranging from espionage to violence against dissidents and diaspora members. Cyber operations are also growing in significance, with a February report noting that a group infiltrated the digital systems of Iranian exiles.

“Transnational repression by Iranian intelligence services against dissident organizations and individuals from the diaspora ranges from targeted espionage, smear campaigns, intimidation and threats, all the way to violence,” said the BfV to DW.

Outrage Over Abductions and Executions

The case of Jamshid Sharmahd, a German-Iranian citizen abducted in 2020 while traveling to a neighboring country, ignited public anger. Initially reported as executed four years later, later accounts suggested he died just before his scheduled execution. With the conflict escalating, the BfV warns that the situation could become more perilous for those not directly tied to Iran.