Story perspectives

Iran Threatens 13 Leaders, Plots Spy Attacks in Europe

7/16/2026

Summary

Story summary

Iran's Hamshahri newspaper listed thirteen leaders—German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, U.S. President Donald Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, French President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni—as retaliation after Ali Khamenei's death.
Iran’s intelligence may attack Europe with agents, prompting SPD spokesperson Sebastian Fiedler to say threat is high and could spur extremist actors.
Germany’s intelligence agency estimates 180 people are linked to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard or its services.

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Story summary

Iran's Hamshahri newspaper listed thirteen leaders—German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, U.S. President Donald Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, French President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni—as retaliation after Ali Khamenei's death.
Iran’s intelligence may attack Europe with agents, prompting SPD spokesperson Sebastian Fiedler to say threat is high and could spur extremist actors.
Germany’s intelligence agency estimates 180 people are linked to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard or its services.