In a disturbing incident that has raised questions about the West's policy towards Iran, a journalist and TV presenter from Iran International, Pouria Zeraati, was stabbed outside his home in Wimbledon, London. The attack has reignited calls for action to confront and deter the Iranian regime from expanding its malign activities.

The identity and motive of the attackers remains unclear, although suspicion has been cast on the Iranian regime given its track record of plotting against dissidents and foreign officials. This is not the first time that Iran International journalists have been targeted, as an investigation by ITV last year uncovered a plot by Iran's Revolutionary Guards to assassinate hosts of two flagship shows on the channel. However, the plot was foiled when the hitman turned out to be an agent of a Western intelligence agency.

Fortunately, Zeraati's condition is reported as stable and not life-threatening, according to the London Metropolitan Police. Due to the nature of his occupation and the threats directed at the group of journalists, the incident is being investigated by specialist officers from the Met's Counter Terrorism Command. The police have also disclosed that several plots to kidnap or kill UK-based individuals perceived as enemies of the Iranian regime have been disrupted since 2022.

Critics argue that the West's inaction or confusion in dealing with Iran's threats has emboldened the regime to silence dissidents with impunity. Alicia Kearns, Chair of Foreign Affairs Committee in the UK, expressed her concerns and called for clear strategies to protect individuals speaking out against the Iranian regime.

Iran International had to temporarily shut down its London operations and relocate to Washington in February 2023 due to imminent threats against the organization and its employees. Not long before the incident, Iran's minister of intelligence labeled Iran International as a terrorist organization, setting the stage for potential actions against the broadcaster.

Commander Dominic Murphy, head of the Met's Counter Terrorism, acknowledged the wider concern caused by this incident for individuals in similar lines of work and those from Iranian communities. He assured that the police are working closely with the victim's organization.

Karim Sadjadpoor of the Carnegie Endowment for Peace characterized the attack as a wakeup call for US and European officials, emphasizing Iran's active attempts to target reporters and activists in the West. He called for a change in policy to confront this threat.

The incident has once again put the spotlight on the Iranian regime's actions, with heightened calls for a robust response to deter future acts of violence against dissidents and journalists. The dangerous nature of Iran's actions abroad demands a united and decisive stance from the international community to protect those who seek refuge from transnational threats and violence.