Iran has been using clandestine violence and espionage to gain an advantage overseas, striking at the “soft underbelly” of its enemies. This strategy dates back to the 1979 revolution, when Tehran assessed its weakness on the conventional battlefield and began targeting vulnerable targets.
Australian authorities believe Iran may be behind recent antisemitic attacks in the country, but experts say it’s a plausible charge. Iranian leader Ali Khamenei has vowed “everlasting consequences” against the US, while in reality, Tehran was already carrying out a rolling programme of disruption on its enemies’ territory.
Iranian intelligence services have been linked to over 200 plots worldwide since 1979, with recent years seeing a sharp rise in reports. The country’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has been involved in numerous operations, including assassination attempts and bombings against perceived enemies.
A recent trend is the use of organized crime groups as proxies for Iranian operations. This may be a sign of weakness or a desperate attempt to signal Tehran’s continued activity. Experts warn that Australia attacks “smacked of desperation”, suggesting Iran’s capabilities are overstated.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/aug/26/iran-has-a-long-history-clandestine-attacks-abroad-to-further-its-ends