Failed Bombings in Thailand, India Indicate Weaknesses in Iranian Espionage

Six people have been named as suspects in an alleged Iranian bomb plot targeting Israeli diplomats in Bangkok, Thailand, last week. Though the suspects mistakenly set off the explosives while inside their house, the homemade, improvised bombs matched those used in twin attacks the day before in New Delhi, India, and Tbilisi, Georgia. The device in New Delhi, planted on a car door, left four people wounded; the device in Georgia was defused.

Israel has accused Iran of being behind the attacks, which Tehran denies. But the method used in Thailand, India and Georgia looked a lot like that used to assassinate an Iranian nuclear scientist in Tehran last month, for which Iran blames Israel. And according to Michael Eisenstadt, director of the Military and Security Studies Program at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, that strongly suggests Iranian involvement, even though he cautioned that only forensics can tell for sure.

“The Iranians place great emphasis on reciprocity in the relationship to the outside world,” said Eisenstadt. “They are always tit for tat.”

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