Iran Hiring Criminal Networks in Europe to Attack Jews, US Religious Freedom Report Finds

Iran is "directly engaging criminal networks abroad to carry out attacks against Jewish targets and make Jews in Europe unsafe," according to a report by the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF).

The July report evaluated Iran's continued violations of freedom of religion or belief both domestically and abroad. It paid particular attention to the government's recent targeting of religious minorities – including Baha'is, Jews, Christians, Sunnis, and various non-Muslim minority groups – in the wake of a June 2025 military escalation.

According to the report, Iran continues to promote and instigate antisemitism abroad, both via criminal networks and online and through social media.

One example it cited was the attempted assassination of a rabbi in Azerbaijan in January by a Georgian drug trafficker hired by Iran. While the plot was foiled, it was later reported that members of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force had paid the man $200,000 to carry out the attack and also recruited a local Azerbaijani to surveil the rabbi's movements.

In July, Danish authorities arrested a man recruited by Iranian intelligence authorities to gather information on possible attacks on Jewish targets, such as synagogues and Jewish leaders in Germany. Both stories were reported by The Jerusalem Post at the time.

According to USCIRF, Iranian authorities have actively recruited gangs throughout Europe "to carry out attacks on Israeli embassies and Jewish sites, including houses of worship, memorial centers, restaurants, and community centers."

(JPost/VFI News)

“Lord, we pray for our Jewish brothers and sisters and ask for Your divine protection to be upon each individual visiting ot living in Europe and across the world. We pray that no evil plot will come to fruition and that those who seek to bring death and destruction will be stopped and brought to justice. In Yeshua’s name we pray.”