An Iranian man, who is currently detained in Cyprus, sought to be released with the aim of deportation due to his involvement in planning a terrorist attack against an Israeli businessman in Limassol.

T.B. arrived in Cyprus in 2002, and in 2004 changed his name, with the consent of Cypriot authorities, to K.R., for security reasons, as he claimed to be at risk from the Iranian regime. His wife and child had traveled to Cyprus with him.

For 22 years, the family lived on the island, and in 2004, they were all recognized as political refugees, obtaining permanent residency and the right to travel throughout Europe.

However, things were not as they appeared, as despite claiming to be in danger, he was collaborating with Iranian intelligence services, specifically with the Revolutionary Guards’ unit responsible for organizing terrorist operations abroad.

Arrested in an Operation by the CIE

Since 2014, the Cypriot Intelligence Service (CIE) had information that this political refugee was involved in the issuance of counterfeit travel documents. Nevertheless, he continued to stay in Cyprus. He even applied for Cypriot citizenship, which was rejected.

Last year, Cypriot authorities received information suggesting he was involved in suspicious activities, frequently traveling to the occupied territories, linked with Iranian intelligence services, and participating in terrorist activities in Georgia.

Another Iranian was arrested with him, but the two did not share a common agenda. However, both had the same handler who visited the occupied territories and met with them and is believed to be the mastermind behind an operation to assassinate Israelis in Georgia.

Possibility of Deportation to Iran

Following his arrest, detention and deportation orders were issued. The suspect appealed to the judiciary to cancel these orders, but the appeal was rejected, and he remained in detention awaiting deportation. Attempts were made to deport him to a third country (reports mention Lebanon, controlled by the pro-Iranian Hezbollah), but this was not accepted. Cypriot authorities do not rule out the possibility of deporting him to Iran, given that he is reported to have maintained connections with the country.

According to the decision of the Supreme Court of Cyprus, the attempt to deport him has neither been abandoned nor diminished. “On the contrary, the competent authorities of the Republic of Cyprus do not seem to be complacent or inactive. It appears that actions, initiatives, and démarches have been undertaken by the authorities, which are still ongoing, about finding a country to which the Iranian could be deported before, as a last resort, considering the possibility of re-deportation to Iran. For this purpose, various elements are being utilized, such as the correlation of his contacts and visits to several countries using various travel documents, including passports reportedly issued by his country of origin, just two (2) – three (3) years before his arrest in November 2023.”

The request for his release was denied.