In a shocking revelation, it has been discovered that Iran is hiring hitmen around the world to intimidate, abduct, and assassinate individuals who are perceived as enemies of the regime. This revelation comes amidst escalating tensions between the U.S. and Iran, with Iranian-backed militias regularly attacking U.S. bases in Syria and Iraq. While these attacks have received attention, the use of hitmen as proxies by Iran has largely gone unnoticed.

One individual who has been targeted by Iran is Masih Alinejad, an Iranian-American activist who has played a significant role in encouraging demonstrations against Iran's law mandating women to wear a headscarf, or hijab. Alinejad has been living in Brooklyn and asks women back home to send her videos of them taking off their hijabs, which she then spreads online to her millions of followers, fueling the protest movement. Her actions have made her a target of the Iranian government, leading to multiple threats against her life.

Alinejad initially brushed off the threat when FBI agents showed up at her New York City home, as she had become accustomed to such intimidation tactics. However, the agents informed her that the Iranian regime had hired a private investigator on U.S. soil to monitor her movements and gather information about her daily life. This revelation sent shockwaves through Alinejad, as she realized that the threat was much more serious than she had initially thought.

The plots against Alinejad have been extensive and sinister. In 2021, there was a thwarted kidnapping attempt, with the plan being to take her by speedboat to Venezuela and then to Iran for a trial. A year later, Iran paid a 24-year-old Azerbaijani living in New York $30,000 to buy a semi-automatic weapon and assassinate Alinejad. The would-be assassin lurked outside her home for a week before being pulled over for a traffic violation, where officials discovered a gun in his car. Three men, including the alleged hitman, were charged in connection with the assassination plot, which the Department of Justice described as being directed by Iran.

Alinejad's case is not an isolated one. Former U.S. government officials, including former President Donald Trump, former Defense Secretary Mark Esper, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and former national security adviser John Bolton, have all been targeted by Iran. Threats against these individuals have been deemed credible enough for them to receive round-the-clock protection. Iran has reportedly offered a hitman a million dollars for Pompeo's head.

The use of criminal proxies by Iran is not new. The country regularly collaborates with criminal organizations and individuals to carry out its dirty work on foreign soil. Iranian dissidents have faced intimidation, abductions, and assassination attempts around the world, with several successful kidnappings leading to executions in Iran. Intelligence agencies have noted an increase in Iran's efforts to intimidate and eliminate its perceived enemies, with the U.K. foiling 15 Iranian kidnapping and assassination attempts since last year.

The revelation of Iran's use of hitmen as proxies has raised concerns about the U.S. government's response to these threats. Some individuals, like John Bolton, view Iran's actions as acts of war and believe that the U.S. needs to take a stronger stance. However, there is a concern that the Biden administration's policies toward Iran have been too lenient, failing to confront the Iranian regime effectively.

Masih Alinejad has testified before Congress, urging the Biden administration to change its policies toward Iran. She believes that negotiating with the killers only empowers them and that stronger measures need to be taken to hold the Iranian regime accountable for its actions. As long as the current policies continue, Alinejad's life and the lives of other targeted individuals will remain in danger.

The use of hitmen as proxies by Iran highlights the country's willingness to go to extreme measures to silence its critics and suppress dissent. It is a chilling reminder of the lengths that authoritarian regimes will go to maintain control and silence opposition, even on foreign soil. The international community must remain vigilant and take decisive actions to address Iran's actions and protect individuals who are at risk.