Deadly Proxies: How Iran Outsources Global Terror Campaigns

Iran's regime is increasingly turning to unconventional proxies to execute its global terror campaigns, according to experts who see potential hallmarks of Iranian involvement in the recent firebombing of four ambulances in Golders Green, London. This shift towards outsourcing its violent agenda marks a concerning evolution in the Islamic Republic's tactics.

The mask may have slipped when Mohsen Rafighdoost, a former minister of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), was filmed last March fondly reminiscing with an interviewer about the assassinations he had organized around Europe. Among them was the 1979 shooting of Prince Shahriar Shafiq, the 34-year-old nephew of the last Shah of Iran, outside his mother's home in Paris.

This brazen display of Iran's clandestine operations underscores a troubling pattern of the regime's evolving tactics. Experts suggest that Iran is increasingly relying on biker gangs, hired hands, and other unconventional proxies to carry out its global terror campaigns, rather than relying solely on its own operatives.

This shift in approach may be driven by a desire to obfuscate Iranian involvement and avoid the diplomatic fallout that direct attacks could bring. By outsourcing its violent agenda, the regime can distance itself from the resulting violence and deny culpability, making it more challenging for the international community to hold it accountable.

The recent firebombing of four ambulances in Golders Green, London, bears the hallmarks of this new modus operandi. While the investigation is ongoing, experts believe that the involvement of biker gangs or other hired hands could indicate Iranian involvement in the attack, which targeted a predominantly Jewish community.

This pattern of outsourcing terror campaigns is not limited to Europe. Iran has also been linked to the use of proxy forces in other regions, such as the Middle East, where it has provided support to groups like Hezbollah and the Houthi rebels in Yemen. By leveraging these unconventional proxies, Iran can extend the reach of its malign influence while obscuring its direct role.

As the Islamic Republic continues to refine its tactics, the international community must remain vigilant and adapt its counter-terrorism strategies to address this evolving threat. Tracking the connections between Iran and its unconventional proxies, as well as strengthening cross-border cooperation, will be crucial in disrupting the regime's global terror network.

The brazen display of Mohsen Rafighdoost's involvement in past assassinations serves as a stark reminder of the regime's ruthless determination to project its power and influence, even at the cost of innocent lives. The world must be prepared to confront this threat with a comprehensive and coordinated response.