German intelligence committee warns of Iranian attacks on European leaders
Mark Henrichmann, chair of the Bundestag’s intelligence oversight committee, warned that Iran’s secret services could carry out attacks in Europe. He cited a recent “retaliation list” published in the Iranian newspaper Hamshahri that names foreign leaders – including German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, U.S. President Donald Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron and U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer – as potential targets. Henrichmann said, “We must assume that Iran’s intelligence services will also carry out attacks in Europe,” adding that the list “is an indication of Tehran’s desperation and aggression.”
Other German politicians, such as foreign‑policy spokesman Röntger Kizebert (CDU), Green MP Konstantin von Notz and the SPD parliamentary group, echoed the assessment, describing the threat as “extremely realistic” and noting an “increased level of threat.” German security agencies are now focusing on “one‑off agents” – individuals hired for specific missions without formal training – as part of their response to the perceived danger.