Discovery of a Network Affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps Operating Against Islamic Republic Opponents in Albania
Albanian police say they have discovered an Iranian paramilitary network that allegedly planned to carry out attacks against an Iranian opposition group seeking the overthrow of the government in Tehran.
Ardi Velioe, head of Albanian police, said on Wednesday, October 23rd, that the foreign branch of the “Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps” was operating an “active terrorist cell” that targeted members of the “Mujahedin-e Khalq” group.
He made no statement regarding an alleged attack plan or any arrests that may have been made.
According to a statement from Albanian police, two senior Iranian security officials from Tehran were directing this group. The network apparently maintained connections with organized criminal groups in Turkey and used former members of the Mujahedin-e Khalq to gather intelligence in Albania.
The network was reportedly run by an intelligence officer of the Quds Force known as “Peyman,” and he used an individual named “Alireza Naqashzadeh,” a Guards intelligence officer and a former member of the Mujahedin-e Khalq who held an Austrian passport, to gather intelligence.
Albanian police also released a photo of “Abdolkhalegh Malekzadeh” under the alias “Farhad,” who lived in Turkey and is a Guards intelligence officer. An individual named “Abdolsalam Turgut” was mentioned, who according to the Turkish state news agency Anadolu is a known figure in organized crime in Turkey.
Velioe said that another planned attack by Iranian government agents against the Mujahedin-e Khalq in Albania had been thwarted in March.
Albania expelled the Islamic Republic’s ambassador and another Iranian diplomat last year due to illegal activities threatening Albania’s security.
Source: Voice of America
