Germany Reveals The Activities Of Mass Destruction Weapon Development And An Iranian Spy

Iranian missile illustration. (Wikimedia Commons / Hawijpolo)

JAKARTA - German intelligence authorities have revealed that Iran is looking for ways to develop weapons of mass destruction, by utilizing materials from European sources.

The Bavarian Office report for the Protection of Constitution or Germany's domestic intelligence agency said that Iran, along with North Korea and Syria, were trying to develop a stockpile of destructive weapons.

This differs from the presence of Iran in talks in Vienna, Austria which aims to restore the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran, the United States, and a number of other countries. Proving the rebuttal of wanting nuclear weapons.

"They seek to expand their conventional arsenal through the production of, or constant modernization, of weapons of mass destruction", the report said, according to The National News, Wednesday, April 28.

"In order to acquire the necessary knowledge and materials, the country is trying to establish contacts with businesses in high-tech countries such as Germany", the report continued.

To circumvent German export controls, the report continued, these countries set up fake companies, send goods through third countries or trick German companies into hiding their activities.

The 380-page document also says Iranian intelligence services remain active in Germany, even after they were involved in a bomb plot in Europe that was thwarted by German authorities.

The Ministry of Intelligence of the Islamic Republic of Iran (MOIS), the Revolutionary Guard Corps Intelligence Organization, and the Quds Revolutionary Guards Elite Force are named on the list of foreign spies active in Germany.

An MOIS agent was identified as the conspirator behind the foiled bomb attack at the Iranian opposition rally in Paris in 2018. Guests at the event included former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani and several members of the British parliament.

Assadollah Assadi was arrested in Germany and transferred to Belgium, where police found explosives in a car. Belgian security officials later identified him as an Iranian intelligence official operating undercover at the Tehran embassy in Austria. He is believed to work for what is called Department 312, a domestic security directorate, which is on the European Union's terrorism list.

Investigations reveal Assadi brought explosives to Austria on a commercial flight from Iran. Then he turned it over to another conspirator during a meeting at a Pizza Hut restaurant in Luxembourg.

The report said Iranian reconnaissance work in Germany was aimed primarily at Jewish and Israeli groups and their supporters.

"Germany remains the focus of the intelligence services' reconnaissance work", the report said.

To note, Germany is one of the signatories of the 2015 nuclear deal between world powers and Iran, which diplomats in Vienna are trying to revive.