A new report from NUFI, the National Union for Democracy in Iran, details this long-term strategy by the regime, not through traditional espionage, but through institutions, religious centers, schools, nonprofits, and community organizations that operate legally, consistently, and over generations.

Now, at the center of this network is the Alavi Foundation. This New York-based nonprofit owns a 36-story building on Fifth Avenue, a revenue-generating asset that funds dozens of affiliated organizations across the country.