Spanish far-right leader survives assassination, points finger at Iran

Alejo Vidal-Quadras, a prominent right-wing Spanish politician and founder of Spain’s far-right Vox party, publicly accused Iran of orchestrating the attempt on his life during his first appearance since the November attack.

The 78-year-old, shot in the face near his Madrid home, asserted, “I have no doubt that it was the Iranian regime,” citing their alleged history of extraterritorial terrorist activities against dissidents.

Vidal-Quadras, a former European Parliament vice-president and staunch supporter of Iran’s opposition movement, detailed the harrowing incident in a press conference.

The assailant, riding a motorcycle, targeted him in broad daylight in the upscale Salamanca neighborhood. Four individuals have been apprehended in connection with the investigation, but the suspected gunman, a French national of Tunisian origin, remains at large.

Despite surviving what he called a “miracle,” Vidal-Quadras described the immediate aftermath of the shooting, emphasizing the bullet’s trajectory through his jaw and subsequent hospitalization for a jaw fracture. He highlighted the intervention of a passer-by, crucial in stemming the bleeding and ultimately saving his life.

Recounting the incident, Vidal-Quadras expressed the profound impact on his health, noting “some paralysis of the facial muscles” as an enduring after-effect. Undeterred, he reiterated his longstanding advocacy for a more stringent global stance against Iran, underscoring his role as a leading member of the International Committee in Search of Justice, which supports the “Iranian resistance.”

As the investigation unfolds, questions linger regarding the motive behind the assassination attempt, while Vidal-Quadras remains steadfast in his accusations against Iran, calling for increased international scrutiny on the alleged involvement of the Iranian regime in this shocking act of violence.