Iran stepped up missile tech procurement in Europe, German intel says

As Israel continues striking Iran and Tehran fires missiles in retaliation, a new German intelligence report warns that Iranian efforts to acquire missile-related technology in Europe surged in 2024.

“In addition to its nuclear program, Iran pursues one of the most extensive missile programs in the Middle East,” Germany’s Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV), equivalent to the FBI in the US, asserted this week.

“Procurement activities in Germany in the area of Iranian missile technology/missile programs remain high – and are on the rise.”

The report added that Iran continued to violate key commitments under the 2015 nuclear deal (JCPOA), prompting the EU to maintain a partial embargo banning the transfer of sensitive goods, weapons, and delivery systems.

Calls for snapback sanctions

In May, Austria’s intelligence service concluded that Iran’s nuclear weapons development is “well advanced” and that it now has a growing arsenal of ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear warheads.

On June 12, the UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency(IAEA) censured Tehran for failing to meet its safeguard obligations under the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

“The E3 (Britain, France and Germany) should invoke the snapback sanctions mechanism,” Jason Brodsky, policy director at United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI), told Iran International.

“Invoking snapback would restore previous UN Security Council resolutions requiring Iran to suspend all uranium enrichment and reinforce the US position of zero enrichment in Iran,” he added, pointing out that snapback would also reinstate the arms embargo and missile restrictions.

Espionage, repression, regional threats

The report also named Iran, along with Russia, China, and Turkey, as among the top four states conducting espionage, cyberattacks, influence operations, and proliferation inside Germany.

Each country, it noted, pursues different priorities.

Proliferation was defined as acquiring products and knowledge for weapons of mass destruction, delivery systems, and other advanced military technologies. Iran was mentioned 84 times in the 412-page report, which outlines threats to German democracy.

It also condemned Tehran’s domestic crackdown and support for Russia’s war in Ukraine.

“Due to the violent actions of Iranian security forces within the country and the support of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, the EU imposed further sanctions against the country in 2023 and 2024,” the report said.

German-Iranian political scientist Dr. Wahied Wahdat-Hagh told Iran International that Berlin is increasingly alarmed by Tehran’s continued defiance. He said snapback under UNSCR 2231 is likely unless Iran yields to US demands.

He also warned that Iran’s missile program poses a threat to Europe, citing its threats to close the Persian Gulf, disrupt global markets, and target countries allied with Israel.

Iran International contacted Israeli officials for comments on the German findings. No response was received at the time of publication.