Today, BILD has revealed substantial concerns over Iranian intelligence activities operating in Germany, particularly through a network linked to the regime’s Islamic Mustafa Institute in Berlin. German intelligence services are currently scrutinizing around 700 individuals associated with the Berlin-based branch of this university, which has been alleged to function as a recruiting center for the Quds Force—the elite intelligence and paramilitary wing of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC).
According to BILD, these investigations focus on several covert lists, each containing details on individuals suspected of potential involvement in espionage for Tehran. These include a list of 63 people holding German passports, a roster of 551 individuals connected to the Mustafa Institute, and another detailing 78 “trainees” from Germany. Intelligence services are reportedly comparing these lists against German security databases to identify potential threats linked to Iranian influence.
The U.S. Department of Treasury has previously documented the global presence of Mustafa International University, detailing how it allegedly operates under the supervision of the Quds Force as a “recruitment platform for gathering intelligence and mobilizing foreign fighters.” U.S. sanctions documents describe the university as a tool for the Quds Force to expand its network by enlisting operatives in multiple countries. The Quds Force itself was classified as a foreign terrorist organization by the United States in 2019 due to its extensive support for militant organizations worldwide, including Hamas and Hezbollah.
Prominent German political figures have voiced urgent calls for action. Alexander Dobrindt, head of the CSU parliamentary group, pressed Interior Minister Nancy Faeser to take immediate steps to address the situation, insisting that “Iranian Islamist institutions on German soil must be closed immediately.” Dobrindt expressed the view that the Iranian espionage threat in Germany is “blatant” and underscored that “the Interior Minister cannot ignore this any longer; she must act to ban these institutions at once.”
Christian Democratic Union (CDU) intelligence expert Christoph de Vries echoed this concern, directly questioning why the Mustafa Institute has remained operational in Germany while it has faced sanctions in the United States and Canada for years. De Vries criticized the German government’s inaction and highlighted that the institute was “founded by Supreme Leader Khamenei himself” and functions as a “central organ for disseminating fundamentalist ideology and recruiting operatives for Quds Force terrorism.”
The Institute’s alleged role in recruiting for the IRGC’s Quds Force—known for directing intelligence-gathering and paramilitary operations abroad—adds a deeper layer to the regional and international security concerns. BILD revealed that the Quds Force, through institutions like the Mustafa Institute, provides support to terror-linked groups globally and continues to pursue activities that compromise Germany’s national security. This revelation underscores the reach of the Quds Force beyond Iran, leveraging cultural and educational fronts to extend its influence across Europe and beyond.
German political figures and intelligence experts stress the urgency of a coordinated response, emphasizing that the Mustafa Institute’s alleged activities align with a broader agenda to use European soil as a base for intelligence and recruitment. As pressure mounts, Interior Minister Faeser faces demands for transparency and action to address the potential risks associated with these alleged espionage activities on German soil. The German government has yet to confirm any decisions regarding potential measures against the Mustafa Institute, but the pressure from high-level officials is mounting as calls for accountability grow louder.
Source » ncr-iran