Iran-Aligned Proxies and the Emergence of a “Violent Gig Economy”: Implications for Southeast Asia’s Financial and Trade Hubs
A CNA report citing remarks by analyst Matthew Levitt argues Iran-linked proxy networks are shifting toward deniable, outsourced external operations enabled by intermediaries, encrypted recruitment, and flexible financing channels. While no imminent threat to Southeast Asia is reported, the article highlights elevated exposure for well-connected economies—particularly through trade, finance, and sanctions-evasion typologies.