Italy's defense minister, Guido Crosetto, told RTL 102.5 that officials are not currently focused on the idea of direct attacks by Iran against Italy. Instead, he singled out terrorism as the main concern.
Terrorism risk: hundreds of sleeper cells
Crosetto said intelligence estimates place the number of Iranian sleeper cells worldwide in the hundreds. These are people who have been inactive for years but could be activated at any time to carry out an act of terrorism. He warned they are spread across different countries and described this as a larger problem than a direct state attack.
What he said on the record
- Direct attacks: Not considered a current threat to Italy.
- Sleeper cells: Hundreds, dormant for years, located around the world and potentially activatable.
- Priority: Tackling these cells is a more pressing issue, according to the minister.
On the referendum and magistrates
Speaking on the Rai Tre program Agorà, hosted by Roberto Inciocchi, Crosetto also addressed a referendum underway in Italy. He said he believes the measure will make individual magistrates stronger and give them more freedom in their work.
Those are the key points Crosetto made in his recent media appearances. The focus for now, he says, should be on countering the network of sleeper agents rather than preparing for direct state-level attacks.
