Iran and Cultural Centers in Europe: Roles, Dimensions and Limits of Influence

Iranian cultural centers play a crucial role in expanding Iran’s influence beyond its borders, making them one of the country’s most significant assets. The importance of these centers is evident within the context of the Wilayat al-Faqih ideology, which is a critical part of Iranian foreign policy. With a complex mix of geopolitical, religious and sectarian factors at play, Iran seeks to become a dominant regional power. The Iranian government understands the importance of cultural centers in achieving these objectives and has invested heavily in their development. Iran’s global ambitions have sparked a profound interest in Iranian communities in Europe, extending beyond their traditional sphere of influence. In pursuit of their political and religious goals, Iran established cultural centers in Europe, which have been politicized to align with their foreign policy objectives. However, incidents associated with these centers raised alarm and prompted European authorities to probe into their activities. It is of utmost importance to scrutinize their role and assess whether they are linked to Iranian security and intelligence apparatuses, according to European governments. The significant nature of these centers and their potential impact on European security is comprehensively analyzed in this book.