Greek authorities thwarted a planned attack on a Jewish centre in Athens, exposing what investigators believe to be part of Iran’s wider network of terror plots targeting Jews and Israelis in the West. The plot, linked to a Pakistan-based operative working on Iran’s behalf, highlights Tehran’s growing role in directing assassination and abduction attempts in Europe and beyond, reports The Times Of Israel.
Iran’s Expanding Terror Operations
Since 2020, Iran has been linked to at least 33 failed attempts to kidnap or kill Israeli and Jewish targets, according to a Reuters investigation. Many of these attacks have involved hired operatives, particularly Pakistani nationals, with the aim of obscuring direct Iranian involvement.
The Athens case centred on a Pakistani man, Sayed Fakhar Abbas, who allegedly recruited an associate, Syed Irtaza Haider, to carry out an attack on a Chabad centre in the Greek capital. Greek authorities discovered WhatsApp messages between the two men discussing whether to use explosives or arson. Abbas, believed to be working for an Iran-backed group, promised Haider €15,000 per kill.
“There are secret agencies involved,” Abbas told Haider in one message, stressing the need to provide proof of casualties. Greek police arrested Haider and another Pakistani suspect before the attack could be carried out. Both men face terrorism-related charges, though Haider claims he only went along with the plan to receive payment without harming anyone. Abbas remains at large.
Mossad and Greek Authorities Uncover Iran’s Role
The Israeli intelligence agency Mossad assisted Greek investigators in tracking down the network behind the planned attack. Israel accused Iran of orchestrating the plot as part of a broader campaign to target Jewish communities worldwide. Iran, however, dismissed the allegations as “fabrications” and accused Israel of diverting attention from its actions in Gaza.
Investigators noted that the Athens plot followed a familiar pattern: Iran-directed attacks using non-Iranian operatives. This method has been observed in multiple cases, including a recent German court case in which a German-Iranian man was convicted of attempting to firebomb a synagogue in Bochum.
Wider Iranian Operations Against Jews and Israelis
Beyond Europe, Iranian-backed terror attempts have been recorded in the United States, where authorities have charged multiple individuals in murder-for-hire schemes targeting US officials, Iranian dissidents, and Jewish figures. Former US National Security Adviser John Bolton and former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo have both been identified as Iranian assassination targets.
Matthew Olsen, the US Assistant Attorney General for National Security, warned that Tehran is no longer able to “hide its hand” in these operations. “We’ve identified the proxy groups involved, but also exposed their direct ties back to the Iranian regime,” he said.
Athens Plot Exposes Iran’s Global Threat
The Athens case demonstrates the lengths to which Iran is willing to go to target Jews and Israelis worldwide. Investigators revealed that Abbas pressured Haider to carry out the attack quickly, even suggesting setting fire to the Jewish centre’s kosher restaurant.
In a desperate attempt to fool his handlers, Haider staged a fake murder, convincing another man to pose as a victim while he recorded a mock execution. Despite his efforts to deceive Abbas, Greek authorities arrested Haider before the attack could take place.
As Iran continues to escalate its shadow war against Israel and Jewish communities, intelligence agencies across Europe and the US remain on high alert. With the frequency of attempted attacks increasing, the Athens case is a stark reminder of the persistent and growing threat posed by Iran-backed antisemitic terror networks.
Photo credit: Angelos Tzortzinis / AFP
More News
