Security politicians representing the Christian Democratic Union, the Social Democrats, and the Greens have sounded alarms regarding potential attacks orchestrated by Iranian networks within Germany. This caution follows the publication of a retaliatory list issued by Iran, which named Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU).
Roderich Kiesewetter, a CDU security policy expert, informed “Handelsblatt” that he believes the terrorist regime has been planning and preparing targeted killings and acts of terror in the West, including Germany, for some time. He stated that the risk of Iranian services and their associated networks launching attacks in Germany is significant, noting that Tehran utilizes allied structures, such as those close to Hezbollah or other Shia-extremist networks. Kiesewetter interpreted the release of the list as a deliberate intimidation tactic, criticizing the stance toward Iranian “diplomats,” which he found incomprehensible given the seemingly cautious approach taken by the government.
Konstantin von Notz, a Green parliamentary group deputy, warned of a fundamentally new quality of threat. Speaking to “Handelsblatt”, he stated that such a listing published by an Iranian newspaper was almost certainly approved by, or possibly directed by, the Mullah regime. According to him, the danger that Iranian intelligence services might employ proxies in Germany for retaliatory actions is acutely real, stressing the need for closer monitoring of Hezbollah-aligned groups.
Sebastian Fiedler, a Social Democratic politician focusing on domestic affairs, also identified a severe escalation in the threat level. As potential actors in the violence, he named extremist groups, criminal networks, and hired aggressors. Furthermore, he indicated that individuals recruited online must also be considered. Fiedler noted that people recruited through the internet often do not know their specific sponsors or the motives behind the attacks, which he described as creating a major challenge for Germany’s security authorities.
