As accusations mount, can Iran survive European backlash over covert ops?
A rare joint statement by Western nations accused Iran of orchestrating assassination plots on foreign soil.
TEHRAN — The United States and a coalition of 13 allied countries — including the UK, France, Germany and Canada — issued a joint statement this week highlighting a surge in Iran-linked assassination, kidnapping and harassment plots across Europe and North America.
The statement condemned Iranian intelligence agencies for what it called "unacceptable violations" of sovereignty, warning that Tehran has increasingly collaborated with international criminal networks to target dissidents, journalists, Jewish citizens and current or former officials.
Marking one of the most comprehensive and coordinated Western responses to Tehran's alleged covert operations to date, the statement drew Iran's quick rejection.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei described it as "baseless" and "ridiculous" and part of a broader campaign of "Iranophobia." In his statement published by Iran's state media, the spokesman accused the Western governments of hypocrisy for "hosting and supporting terrorist elements" themselves and claimed the coordinated condemnation was a tactic to divert attention from Israel's "genocide" in Gaza. Baghaei asserted that the West is intensifying pressure to isolate and weaken Tehran.
