Possible Reaction from Merkel's Government to Iran's Espionage Activities in Germany

The German newspaper "Frankfurter Allgemeine" reported on inspections of the homes and workplaces of 10 suspects accused of espionage for the Islamic Republic of Iran in several cities across Germany, suggesting that Angela Merkel's government may respond to Tehran's espionage activities in the country. Previously, the Federal Prosecutor's Office of Germany announced that on the morning of January 15, it had inspected the workplaces and residences of 10 "suspected spies." According to the Associated Press, the location of these inspections was not disclosed. However, the German weekly "Focus" reported that these inspections took place in Berlin as well as in the states of Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, and North Rhine-Westphalia. The German Prosecutor's Office stated that no one was arrested in connection with this matter. Meanwhile, German news agencies reported that the suspects are believed to be "members of the Quds Force" of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, but the Prosecutor's Office refrained from confirming these reports. In this context, a spokesperson for the German Prosecutor's Office told the Associated Press, "We believe the suspects were spying on individuals and organizations in the country [Germany] at the request of an intelligence unit linked to Iran." In this regard, the "Frankfurter Allgemeine" reported that "Iran is testing Germany's patience and has overstepped to the point where the patience of the Berlin government has run out," noting that "agents do not want to say much about this case due to special investigative methods. They only say that there is a suspicion that the accused were spying on individuals and organizations on behalf of a secret intelligence unit linked to Iran." According to this newspaper, citing the German National Security Agency, Iran has conducted the most espionage activities in Germany after Russia and China. Previously, the German weekly "Focus" had reported, citing security sources, that Iranians were seeking potential targets for attacks on these locations. According to "Focus," one of their targets was the American Jewish Committee. The report indicated that the Orthodox Jewish Association in Alexanderplatz, in central Berlin, and its rabbi were under the surveillance of Iranian spies. According to German security sources, the Maccabi sports club was also monitored by these spies. Based on this report, the American Jewish Committee called for the expulsion of Ali Majedi, the Iranian ambassador in Berlin, but this request has not been fulfilled. The "Frankfurter Allgemeine" noted that one of the cases involved spying on Reinhold Robe, a member of parliament and former head of the Germany-Israel Association, who was followed for months by a Pakistani student. This Pakistani student monitored Robe's daily life, residence, and routes to work or wherever he went. The plan was that if the governments of Israel and Iran became involved in a conflict, the assassination of Reinhold Robe would be easily achievable. German officials have not commented on this matter so far. The issue of spying on Israelis in Germany arose after the German Foreign Ministry announced on January 9 that it had summoned the Iranian ambassador to criticize Tehran's attempts to spy on individuals and groups close to Israel. Berlin stated at that time that such actions were completely unacceptable and contrary to German laws. However, Iran denied the summoning of its ambassador in Germany to that country's Foreign Ministry.