Region | Iran
Criticism of regime may spark new terror wave
There are fears of a new wave of international terrorism provoked by the reaction to the presidential elections in Iran, after the regime backed an expansion of the network operated by Lebanon's Hezbollah.
- By Damien McElroy, The Telegraph Group Limited, London 2009
- Published: 23:07 June 27, 2009
London: There are fears of a new wave of international terrorism provoked by the reaction to the presidential elections in Iran, after the regime backed an expansion of the network operated by Lebanon's Hezbollah.
Since the elections, Iran's leaders have repeatedly criticised the West, blaming British and other foreign agents for inciting demonstrations, after presidential candidates accused officials of rigging the election in favour of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the hardline president.
Intelligence experts have given warning that, rather than merely seeking to distract attention from its domestic turmoil with rhetoric, Iran will seek "retaliation" beyond its borders.
"Hezbollah has stretched, facilitated by Iran, across the Middle East, Central Asia, Europe and Latin America," said Magnus Ranstorp, a terrorism expert at Sweden's National Defence University.
"It grants Iran global power and Hezbollah has become more susceptible to Iran's efforts to project its influence."
Intelligence experts believe that Germany, where Hezbollah has an estimated 900 operatives, is the most vulnerable location in Europe.
"Hezbollah is capable of striking in Germany or, more likely, planning an incident like the Al Qaida cell in Hamburg that planned the attack on New York," said Alexander Ritzmann, a fellow at the European Centre for Democracy. "Hezbollah operatives can be activated from Beirut or Tehran."
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