Source: https://apnews.com/article/peru-iran-quds-force-israel-attack-ca7884d44bb5e64ee57c18b95f1ec1dc
Peruvian police have arrested an Iranian citizen, Majid Azizi, who was apparently affiliated with Iran’s Quds Force, for allegedly planning to assassinate an Israeli citizen in Lima. General Óscar Arriola announced the arrest, revealing that the authorities thwarted the attack, though the intended target remains undisclosed for security reasons. Azizi entered Lima on March 3, with foreign intelligence offices alerting Peruvian authorities. While Azizi’s Quds Force affiliation is unconfirmed, Iran has a history of intelligence operations in South America through the Quds Force. Azizi and two Peruvian accomplices face initial 15-day imprisonment on terrorism charges. Iran has not commented on the arrest.
I think it is quite concerning that there are potential threats emerging across the world, as seen here in the recent arrest of an Iranian citizen planning an assassination in Peru. It shows the volatility of security challenges and emphasizes the need for constant vigilance and international collaboration to identify and end potential dangers. Looking at the potential effects on the region, the presence of this man in South America raises questions about Iran’s activities in the area and what else they may be planning. With historical ties to Venezuela and past involvement in intelligence operations, there’s a complex dynamic at play, and it is definitely one to look out for. If arrests like these continue, we could see increased security measures across Peru/South America, heightened scrutiny of foreign individuals entering the region, and potential diplomatic tensions between the states involved (Iran/Peru).
In class, we discussed terrorism, and the recent arrest of an Iranian operative planning an assassination in Peru is an example of terrorism , as the individual (or organization behind the act) deliberately targeted a civilian in order to demoralize the Israeli population. This man could have been trying to provoke Israel on behalf of Iran and he could have maximized the psychological affects to further terrorize the people of Israel and Peru, and because of that, this could be a form of state sponsored terrorism, as he acted on behalf of Iran.