Security expert Peter Neumann believes that the pro-Iranian network Hayi indicates a directive coming from the regime in Tehran. Speaking to the “Rheinische Post”, the Professor from King’s College in London stated that there are multiple indications suggesting Iranian control over the group’s activities.
According to Neumann, Hayi only became visibly active following the start of the Iran War, suggesting that its operations are executed within that specific geopolitical context. He highlighted that the group’s selection of targets matches perceived Iranian threats: including attacks against Jewish communities, Israeli targets, US companies, and the Iranian opposition.
Furthermore, the expert noted that the operations have a pattern mirroring previous attacks associated with the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Neumann explained that a typical tactic involves recruiting perpetrators from the criminal underworld, which is sometimes done online via platforms like Snapchat. Crucially, he added that these paid individuals often lack genuine ideological alignment with Iran, allowing Tehran to convincingly deny any involvement, despite the lack of a definitive “smoking gun” piece of evidence.
These revelations follow earlier warnings from the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) regarding a potential escalation in the activities of the pro-Iranian terrorist group HAYI across Europe.
