France freezes Iranian intelligence assets

France froze the assets on Tuesday of the internal security section of Iran’s Intelligence Ministry as well those belonging to two Iranian individuals. The move is said to be linked to an alleged plot to bomb an opposition group rally earlier this year.

The French foreign ministry said that the move was “preventive, targeted and proportionate”, noting that France is determined to combat terrorism, particularly on its own territory. No details were given in the ministry statement about what the assets include.

However, one of the detainees held in connection with the plot to bomb the rally four months ago was named as Asadullah Asadi, an Iranian diplomat. In June, Israel’s Mossad spy agency said that it had helped the French authorities to thwart the operation.

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Furthermore, the French police have raided one of the largest Shia Muslim centres in northern France, the Zahra Centre in Grande-Synthe, as well as the homes of its most prominent officials. The centre’s assets were also frozen for six months. Weapons and other materials were apparently confiscated during the raid. Several groups are based at the Zahra Centre, including the Anti- Zionist Party and the Shia Alliance of France.