Germany's domestic intelligence agency (the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, BfV) has warned in documents on counter-proliferation that the Islamic Republic's procurement activities in Germany for its missile programme remain at a high level despite sanctions. Iran International reported on Tuesday, 6 October 2026, citing these documents, that after its military facilities were damaged in the two recent wars, Tehran has set its sights on German technology to rebuild its missile capability.
According to Iran International, the list of goods that the German agency says are targeted by the Islamic Republic's purchases includes CNC machinery (computer-controlled lathes and milling machines), carbon fibre, vacuum pumps, epoxy resins, small explosion-proof motors and advanced components for launch systems. These items are dual-use and are used in building the airframes, engines and launch systems of ballistic and cruise missiles and drones.
Covert purchases of dual-use goods after the return of sanctions
According to the report, Germany's domestic intelligence agency says the return of UN sanctions in September 2025 pushed actors linked to the Islamic Republic towards secret channels, and that they use "covert and clandestine methods" to obtain this equipment. In the agency's assessment, the aim of Tehran's procurement network is to repair damaged infrastructure and rebuild ballistic, cruise and unmanned weapons systems.
Iran International also wrote that satellite images released after the strikes on Islamic Republic positions, together with intelligence assessments by Israel and Western countries, point to serious damage to parts of the missile production chain. The Islamic Republic's army spokesman had earlier announced an increase in the range and speed of its missiles.
Islamic Republic espionage in Germany
In its 2025 annual report, published in June 2026, Germany's domestic intelligence agency had also described the Islamic Republic's procurement activity for its missile programme as "persistently high", writing that after the 12-day war Tehran had become dependent on advanced European and German technology to repair and rebuild its facilities. That report named the Islamic Republic, alongside Russia and China, as one of the three main intelligence threats to Germany.
According to the agency, spying on and acting against Iranian opponents and critics in exile are among the priorities of the Ministry of Intelligence, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Intelligence Organisation and the Quds Force in Germany, and the hacker group known as Charming Kitten has targeted journalists, activists and critics of the Islamic Republic with cyberattacks.
In the assessment of German intelligence, the Islamic Republic is trying, after two wars, to restart missile and drone production by covertly buying German technology.
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