Iran's Use of Criminal Gangs in Overseas Operations Under Scrutiny
Recent incidents highlight Iran's alleged strategy of employing criminal organizations for operations abroad, raising concerns among international security agencies.
Recent events have brought attention to Iran's alleged strategy of utilizing criminal organizations to conduct operations beyond its borders. In March 2026, four ambulances belonging to the Jewish charity Hatzola Northwest were set ablaze in Golders Green, London. The Metropolitan Police arrested two men, aged 45 and 47, on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life. Both were later released on bail. Authorities are investigating a claim of responsibility by a group potentially linked to Iran, though the incident has not been officially classified as terrorism.
This incident aligns with a pattern of Iran allegedly outsourcing operations to criminal gangs. Reports indicate that the Iranian regime has increasingly relied on such groups to carry out assassinations and attacks on dissidents and Jewish communities in Europe. For instance, in 2023, an assassination attempt on Professor Alejo Vidal-Quadras in Madrid was reportedly orchestrated by Tehran through hired criminal networks.
In the United States, court records suggest that Iranian officials have contracted criminal organizations for targeted killings. In one case, two Russian nationals were found guilty of plotting the murder of Iranian American dissident Masih Alinejad in Brooklyn, allegedly at the behest of Iranian authorities.
Security experts express concern over this trend. Matthew Levitt, a former U.S. Treasury official, noted that Iran's use of criminal proxies provides plausible deniability and leverages individuals accustomed to violence. Similarly, Colin Clarke of the Soufan Center observed that Iran's strategy mirrors tactics employed by other nations, complicating efforts to trace operations back to state actors.
The UK's intelligence and security committee has reported a significant number of Iran-backed plots in recent years, underscoring the persistent threat posed by such activities. Authorities continue to monitor and investigate these developments to safeguard national and international security.