Spanish prosecutors link Iran to attempted assassination of right-wing politician, seek up to 27 years for seven

Prosecutors allege Iranian involvement

After three years of investigation, Spanish prosecutors directly connected the shooting to the Iranian regime in a sentencing request. They are seeking up to 27 years in prison for seven defendants.

The eighth defendant, Sami Bekal Bounouare, is alleged to have coordinated the attack. Spanish outlet El Pais reported that he fled to Iran. Prosecutors said Iran has conducted operations abroad against opponents and critics, including acts of intimidation and assassination.

Last year, investigating judge Santiago Pedraz said the attack had been ordered by unidentified people seeking revenge for Vidal-Quadras’ support for resistance to Iran’s clerical government. The article does not establish that the judge identified those individuals as Iranian officials.

A warning before the shooting

Vidal-Quadras, now 81, co-founded the far-right Vox party and left less than two years after it began because of ideological differences. He has long supported Iranian resistance groups.

El Pais reported that 35 Iranian opposition figures linked to MEK donated around one million euros to Vox in 2013, helping fund the party’s launch. Vidal-Quadras said the money was meant to support him, not Vox’s domestic political agenda.

Iran added him to a sanctions list accusing him of terrorism in October 2022. He recalled telling Spain’s foreign minister he was worried, but said officials did not consider the list relevant; he was shot the following year.

His account of the attack

Vidal-Quadras said a slight turn of his head saved his life. He recalled being seriously wounded and not remaining conscious throughout the incident. He said he had a confused memory of the time, but remembered writing “Iran” on a telephone. People in the ambulance later told him he had done so.

Warnings after his release

Five days after Vidal-Quadras left hospital, the IRGC-affiliated Fars news agency published a warning, according to the prosecutors’ submission. It said countries hosting MEK and other opposition groups would face consequences.

Fars warned Spain against hosting or allowing MEK to operate in the country. The submission quoted the agency saying this could bring “serious consequences” for Spain.