How Iran Is Outsourcing Violence
“Monday’s firebombing of four ambulances owned by a Jewish charity in Golders Green, north London, and the apparent claim of responsibility, yet to be verified, from a supposed new group said to have links to the Iranian regime, has brought a renewed focus on Iran’s use of terror against dissidents and Jewish communities.”
Iran is expanding its use of proxies by contracting criminal networks to carry out violence abroad, reports The Guardian’s Daniel Boffey in “Biker gangs and hired hands: how Iran is increasingly outsourcing its terrorism campaigns.” The recent London firebombing– though not yet officially attributed to Iran– fits this model.
From Proxies to Criminal Markets
Historically, the IRGC relied on ideological partners and aligned militant groups. Today, evidence points to a broader pool of actors. Organized crime networks, biker gangs, and freelance operatives are increasingly part of the toolkit.
Cases in the United States and Europe highlight this shift. Contract killings and intimidation campaigns are now outsourced through intermediaries, often with minimal direct linkage to Tehran. The objective is operational reach without attribution risk.
This resembles a “gig economy” model of political violence.
Operational Advantages
Criminal actors bring experience with violence and a willingness to operate in legal gray zones. They are also expendable. If exposed, the connection to the state remains indirect and contestable.
This creates a persistent challenge for intelligence services. Attribution becomes slower, legal thresholds harder to meet, and deterrence less effective.
Strategic Implications
For Western security services, this trend complicates counterterrorism frameworks. Traditional models are built to track hierarchical organizations. Iran’s approach fragments the threat landscape, blending state direction with criminal execution.
Policy responses must adjust accordingly. That includes deeper intelligence sharing across law enforcement and national security agencies, expanded monitoring of transnational criminal networks, and legal tools that address proxy-based operations.
“Dave Rich, the head of policy at Community Security Trust, which provides security advice to the Jewish community, said this should be seen as a warning…. ‘People often say, what’s the biggest danger to the Jewish community at the moment? My answer is always the biggest danger is whichever type of terrorist turns up at a synagogue that morning.'”
The post How Iran Is Outsourcing Violence appeared first on Small Wars Journal by Arizona State University.