His personal account reveals the extent to which Tehran’s influence reaches beyond its borders and poses direct threats to European figures. On November 9, 2023, an attempt on Vidal-Quadras’s life was carried out outside his residence in Madrid, allegedly under the orders of the Iranian government. The assault left him with severe injuries, including fractured jawbones. As Vidal-Quadras points out, his experience is not unique; rather, it underscores Iran’s global strategy of targeting dissidents abroad.
One of the most notable instances of Iran’s alleged state-led terrorism in Europe occurred in 2018, when a plot to bomb a gathering of Iranian exiles in Paris was foiled. The event, hosted by the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), attracted tens of thousands, including prominent political figures from Europe and North America. Vidal-Quadras explains that an Iranian diplomat was implicated as the mastermind, a stark reminder of how Iran utilizes diplomatic cover to execute international terrorism.
A highly recommended article by @VidalQuadras:#Iran's repression domestically and abroad: State terrorism that knows no borders. #IRGCterrorists
Irans Repression im In- und Ausland: Staatsterrorismus, der keine Grenzen akzeptiert https://t.co/Q9OZVADTY1 via @Tagesspiegel— Javad Dabiran (@JavadDabiran) October 30, 2024
Despite these cases, Vidal-Quadras criticizes Europe’s policy of appeasement towards Iran, which he argues has emboldened the regime’s aggressive tactics. He highlights the European Union’s hesitancy to classify the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization, despite support from the European Parliament and several national governments. According to him, this reluctance leaves not only Iranian dissidents but also European citizens vulnerable.
The article also brings attention to Iran’s internal suppression of dissent, particularly since the death of Mahsa Amini in 2022. Protests erupted across the nation, underscoring the people’s resistance to the regime.
Vidal-Quadras concludes with a call to action, urging Europe to shift its policy by officially recognizing the IRGC as a terrorist organization and holding Iranian officials accountable for terrorism and human rights violations. Supporting the Iranian people’s right to democracy, he asserts, could be Europe’s crucial contribution to a safer, democratic future for Iran.
MEK Iran (follow us on Twitter and Facebook), Maryam Rajavi’s on her site, Twitter & Facebook, NCRI (Twitter & Facebook), and People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran – MEK IRAN – YouTu
