A last-minute statement shared by the Reuters news agency suggests that Iran used drug traffickers to cause trouble in the European Union. The quote came from France’s interior minister, Bruno Retailleau. He is often ranked second or third among the country’s political leaders.
It’s important to note that Retailleau is a conservative with views often considered very close to far-right ideology. The official was also caught cheating during a game aired on national television.
Iran is currently under attack from Israel and the United States. The Middle Eastern country is known for its expanding nuclear research program, which may require foreign income from illicit businesses. Meanwhile, Iran still punishes drug trafficking with the death penalty.
Relying on illegal substances, a cognitive dissonance
Iran also punishes drug abuse particularly severely. Offenders risk several years behind bars. Alcohol, one of the most dangerous substances for health and society, alongside heroin or methamphetamine, is also illegal. This allows the black market to flourish in the country.
This situation highlights Iran’s ambivalent politics. The Islamic Republic is investing heavily in nuclear research despite having signed the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.
If further analysis confirms Iran’s indirect involvement in drug trafficking, it wouldn’t be the only country funding its nuclear ambitions through crime. North Korea is also said to follow a similar plan, relying on money laundering.
Could Iran face new sanctions from the EU ?
The French masses are not surprised by Bruno Retailleau’s new revelations. In fact, France’s top cop is well-known for his strict stance on immigration, particularly targeting people of color and Muslims. His government is pushing to create a new maximum-security prison that defies human rights in French Guiana, where a large amount of cocaine transits.
Nevertheless, if Iran is funding narcotrafficking in the EU, it may face sanctions from its member states. France isn’t the only country addressing the matter with nationalism and repression. Alongside the Hexagon, countries like Hungary, Italy, and Austria also take similar approaches.
Iran already faces U.S. sanctions alongside notorious narcotraffickers, such as members of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG). The Trump administration is fighting illegal drug production worldwide. This production is regularly beating growth records, including in Syria.
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