While Israel defends itself, Berlin supplies Iran with dangerous goods
The attack appears to have targeted an air force base in Isfahan, not far from Iran's nuclear facilities
Source: epa/EPA/dpa
Despite the tense security situation, Germany exports parts to Tehran that can be used for military purposes. Politicians are now calling for economic sanctions and a ban on the Iranian propaganda center in Hamburg – but this has recently stalled.
DFor years, Iran has been considered one of the most dangerous arms producers in the region. Nevertheless, the federal government continued to allow the export of so-called dual-use goods — products that could be used for both civilian and military purposes — to the Persian Gulf country. This is shown by the lists of the Federal Ministry of Economy available to WELT AM SONNTAG.
In 2021, the total value of these exports is 140 million euros, a significant increase over the previous year. Although the volume will drop significantly in 2022, German authorities have still approved dual-use exports worth 16.8 million euros. Examples of dual-use products include various materials, avionics, marine technology, and sensors.
Ralf Stegner, head of the SPD in the “Disarmament, Arms Control and Non-Proliferation” subcommittee, told WELT AM SONNTAG: “It is generally a big problem that so-called dual-use goods are still supplied to many states. Iran and Russia, sometimes directly or via detours. We Finally, it must be effectively controlled and regulated at the European level. We must not supply these countries with instruments that threaten peace again and again – they must not sell drones or optics for tanks to Tehran.
“Dual-use goods will not be allowed to enter Iran, and financial freezes against Iranian banks, terrorist organizations such as Hamas and Hezbollah are possible,” said former minister Julia Klöckner, economic policy spokesperson for the Union Parliamentary Committee. “Finance” should be examined immediately. In fact, the transactions of Iranian banks in the EU have not yet been frozen. On the contrary: two new branches of Iranian banks have been authorized since 2018 in Germany alone. The Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) announced this upon request. The authority did not want to provide any information on violations by Iranian banks because of its “legal obligation of confidentiality”.
For Michael Roth (SPD), head of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the Bundestag, the cautious trend towards Iran is “absolutely incomprehensible”. “The Iranian regime has become more extreme and more dangerous since 2015. “But our Iran policy has not changed,” Roth said. He demands: Germany supports a trade and economic embargo that leaves only humanitarian goods in the EU.
Terrorism experts and politicians fear that Iran could bring the conflict in the Middle East to Europe. Matthew Levitt, a former FBI investigator and director of counterterrorism at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, warns of attacks by terrorist groups controlled from Iran. “Iranian agents and their recruits continue their attacks on Israeli citizens and officials, as well as Jews and Jewish institutions abroad,” Levitt said.
Iranian offensive plans have become more common in Europe. Israeli embassies are on high alert. “But Israeli and Jewish citizens can also become targets. The past has shown that,” says Levitt. In Germany, Iran has hired criminals to target Jews in the past. The former intelligence official sees Germany as a hub for Iranian foreign operations. Center (IZH) as the base of operations.
Constantin van Noets, vice-chairman of the Green Party's parliamentary committee, insists that developments in the Middle East have “undoubtedly significantly increased the risk of attacks here as well”. As chairman of the Parliamentary Control Committee, Van Notes entrusts the work of the secret services. He warned: “We must be very vigilant, especially regarding the security of Jewish institutions.” Pronouncing the long-discussed ban on IZH is “overdue”.
According to information in this newspaper, the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution has already provided the Union Ministry of Interior on several occasions with detailed materials on IZH, which will serve as the basis for a ban on the association. In November 2023, more than 800 police officers raided the mosque and other properties. But, after that there is no stopping. Security sources say that evaluating the seized data carriers and documents will be time-consuming. Given the global political climate, the process could be accelerated.
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