Iran has been recruiting criminal networks in the West, including Hells Angels and other violent groups, to target dissidents in exile. The Washington Post reported that these operations involve assassination and abduction plots against critics living in the US, UK, Germany, and other Western nations. One notable case includes the stabbing of British-Iranian journalist Pouria Zeraati in London, which investigators believe was orchestrated by criminals from Eastern Europe hired by Tehran. The Iranian regime has also targeted former Iranian military officers, journalists, and activists across Europe and North America. Tehran has denied these allegations, labeling them as fabrications by Western intelligence and Zionist entities. Recent US criminal charges further reveal detailed plots, such as a $350,000 contract with Hells Angels members to kill a defector in Maryland.