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The United States and 13 allied nations have jointly issued a statement accusing Iran’s intelligence services of carrying out assassination attempts, abductions, and harassment campaigns against individuals in Europe and North America. This includes France, Germany, Canada, and Britain, which joined the U.S. in condemning Tehran’s alleged extraterritorial actions as violations of national sovereignty.
In response, Iran’s Foreign Ministry dismissed the allegations as “baseless and ridiculous.” Newsweek has reached out to both the U.S. State Department and Iran’s Foreign Ministry for further comment.
### Why It Matters
This coordinated statement represents one of the strongest multilateral rebukes against Iran’s intelligence activities to date. It highlights growing international concern over Tehran’s alleged willingness to use foreign-based criminal networks to silence its critics abroad. Following the 12-day war between Israel and Iran, as well as U.S. airstrikes on key Iranian nuclear sites, this joint statement reflects mounting apprehension regarding Tehran’s regional behavior and nuclear ambitions.
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### What To Know
The signatory nations accused Iran of systematically targeting journalists, dissidents, and government officials—particularly those critical of the regime—in a coordinated campaign of violence and intimidation. The joint statement said, “We are united in our opposition to the attempts of Iranian intelligence services to kill, kidnap, and harass people in Europe and North America.”
The U.S. State Department posted this statement on X, amplifying the message to a global audience.
#### Assassination Attempts
– In 2023, the U.S. Justice Department indicted three individuals tied to a European criminal network accused of plotting to assassinate an Iranian-American journalist.
– British authorities reported disrupting over 20 Iran-linked plots since early 2022, including attempted kidnappings and assassinations of individuals considered threats by Tehran—some of them British citizens.
– Dutch officials said they foiled a plan in 2024 to assassinate an Iranian national in the Netherlands. Two suspects were arrested, one linked to an attempted shooting of a Spanish politician.
#### Iran Rejects Allegations
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei dismissed the accusations as “baseless and ridiculous.” He called the claims a brazen attempt to deflect blame and shift public attention away from what he described as “Israeli genocidal crimes in Palestine.”
He further rejected the security-related claims, asserting that Western governments should be held accountable for measures violating international law.
With nuclear talks stalled and regional conflict escalating after the Iran-Israel war, Western governments may push for stronger diplomatic and legal measures against Tehran. Concerns are growing over its expanding global intelligence operations.
📚 Reading Comprehension Quiz
Which of the following is NOT mentioned as one of the accusations against Iran's intelligence services in the statement?
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