Wall Street Journal Report: Envelopes of Cash and Bomb Maps; A Look at Iran’s Covert Operations in Europe

In Iran’s aborted plot to carry out a bombing at a gathering of the “Organization of Mujahedin-e Khalq of Iran” in the suburbs of Paris, Asadollah Asadi, third secretary of Iran’s embassy in Austria, played a central role. His alias and information in this case was “Daniel.”

“Daniel” on a sunny day in June handed half a kilogram of explosives to Amir Saadouni and his wife Nasimeh Naami in a café in Luxembourg. The two had been gathering information for “Daniel” from the Mujahedin organization for years.

“Daniel” offered tens of thousands of euros to obtain information from the Mujahedin and had threatened to make life difficult for their family in Iran if they did not cooperate.

Amir and Nasimeh had participated in Mujahedin gatherings since 2014 and reported to Asadi (Daniel). Asadi insisted that Nasimeh accompany Amir to the meetings.

This couple sometimes traveled to Vienna by switching trains several times to ensure they were not being followed, and while providing information to Asadollah Asadi, they received cash from him in envelopes and returned home.

Nasimeh Naami worked at a dry cleaning shop. When this couple decided a few years ago to live separately, both owned apartments and cars. Saadouni paid over 400 euros earlier this year for a Roger Waters concert ticket in Antwerp.

Saadouni believed Asadi had other informants among the Mujahedin. He sometimes showed Saadouni images of people attending Mujahedin meetings who had not been discussed before.

Shahin Qobadi, spokesman for the “Organization of Mujahedin-e Khalq of Iran,” says Amir Saadouni and Nasimeh Naami were supporters of the Mujahedin, but were not part of the inner circle.

Saadouni and Naami in recent years were regular participants in the annual Mujahedin gatherings in the suburbs of Paris.

Asadi, or “Daniel,” had summoned Saadouni and Naami to Luxembourg a few days before the June 30 gathering.

Amir Saadouni’s asylum request in Belgium a decade ago was accepted based on his membership in the Mujahedin organization. Amir later brought Nasimeh, who worked at a swimming pool in Iran, to Belgium and married her. Saadouni showed great interest in music and bands such as Pink Floyd in Europe.

A number of European politicians have attempted to show that this operation was the work of rogue elements, but French officials made clear that the operation was directed by Saeed Hashemi Moghaddam, deputy minister of Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence.

Source: Voice of America