T
he United States, Britain, and Australia, along with 22 countries, have issued a joint statement warning Iran and said that it must immediately stop violating their sovereignty and targeting people on foreign soil.
The main points of the statement include condemnation of attacks on foreign soil and the use of criminal gangs.
The joint statement said that any attempt to kill, abduct, intimidate, or harass people on foreign soil is a violation of national sovereignty and international rules.
These 22 countries’ security agencies in Europe, North America, and Australia have alleged that Iran is using international criminal networks and gangs to carry out its conspiracies. They also said that several such gangs have been found to have direct links with Iran.
According to the statement, attacks, killings, kidnappings, intimidation, or harassment of people on foreign soil are being carried out against journalists, Iranian opposition groups, as well as Jewish and Israeli communities.
The group called “Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia” has reportedly claimed responsibility for the attacks. It is described as a pro-Iran-linked group.
One particularly high-profile case involved arson at a synagogue and community centres in the Golders Green area of London (a place of worship for followers of Judaism). The group had previously claimed responsibility for several such incidents.
Photo: @Justin Tallis/AFP/Getty Images
Golders Green is considered a centre of one of the largest Jewish communities in London.
The group has also recently claimed responsibility for several attacks on communities in Europe, including an attack on a synagogue in the city of Liège in Belgium and explosions in the Netherlands. The attacks in the Netherlands included incidents targeting a synagogue and a Jewish school in Amsterdam.
However, Iran has denied any involvement in these attacks.
In response to recent attacks against Jewish communities in London, the Iranian embassy rejected the allegations in a statement, saying that the people and government of Iran completely reject any form of antisemitism. It also stated that the British government has not responded to Iran’s requests for evidence or documentation regarding these claims.
In this regard, the Deputy Prime Minister of Belgium posted on X.
“Belgium joins 21 countries in condemning threats and attacks linked to Iranian security services against dissidents, journalists and Jewish communities in Europe and beyond, including the recent HAYI-claimed attacks.
State-sponsored intimidation and violence have no place in our societies.
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The countries that issued the joint statement are a total of 22 nations, which include:
The countries include the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. European countries such as France, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Ireland, and Denmark are also part of it. In addition, Albania, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, North Macedonia, and Portugal are also included.
According to the statement, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), its intelligence wing, and the Quds Force have been held responsible for orchestrating attacks and covert operations in foreign countries.
The group behind these attacks is said to be Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia (HAYI), which claimed responsibility for the incidents in London, Belgium, and the Netherlands. The group is described as a pro-Iran organization.
