MI5 Chief: State-Sponsored Terrorism by Iran or Hizbullah Can’t be Ruled Out

The head of Britain’s domestic spy agency Jonathan Evans has stressed that several countries, including Iran, shouldn't be underestimated in the evolving terror threat landscape.

"We have seen in recent months a series of attempted terrorist plots against Israeli interests in India, Azerbaijan and elsewhere," he said in prepared remarks ahead of a rare public speech Monday to the Lord Mayor's annual defense and security lecture in London.

"So a return to state-sponsored terrorism by Iran or its associates, such as Hizbullah, cannot be ruled out as pressure on the Iranian leadership increases."

"Our assessment is that Britain has experienced a credible terrorist attack plot about once a year since 9/11," MI5's director general said.

"The (Olympic) games present an attractive target for our enemies and they will be at the center of the world's attention in a month or so," he said. "But the games are not an easy target, and the fact that we have disrupted multiple terrorist plots here and abroad in recent years demonstrates that the UK as a whole is not an easy target for terrorism."

"You could say that we are near to reaching a form of stalemate," said Evans. "They haven't stopped trying but we have got better at stopping them."

But the terrorist threat is also widening to include al-Qaida affiliates in Mali, Yemen, Somalia and parts of the Middle East, he noted.

Although the Arab Spring revolutions have brought about radical political changes in some countries, they have also brought fresh opportunities for al-Qaida affiliates to seek refuge.