Danish Foreign Minister Anders Samuelsen speaks during a news conference in Copenhagen, Denmark, October 30, 2018. Martin Sylvest/Ritzau Scanpix/via REUTERS
On October 30, Danish Foreign Minister Anders Samuelsen announced that his country had recalled their ambassador to Iran over alleged connection between the Iranian intelligence and an attack on an individual in Denmark. Furthermore, the minister said that Denmark would push for more EU-wide sanctions against Iran.
“The government will respond to Iran and is speaking with European partners on further measures,” Samuelsen said.
Earlier, Danish police stated that it had arrested a Norwegian citizen with an Iranian background in connection with an alleged Iranian Intelligence attack on an individual in Denmark. Norwegian authorities confirmed they were assisting Danish law enforcement on the issue.
According to the Danish version, the aforementioned attack was meant to target the leader of the Danish branch of the Arab Struggle Movement for the Liberation of Ahvaz (ASMLA).
“This is a case that entails an Iranian intelligence operation in Denmark. In our view, it was an Iranian intelligence agency’s plan to assassinate a person who lives in Denmark,” Danish intelligence chief Finn Borch Andersen said.
The Norwegian, who was arrested on October 21, has denied the charges. Iran rejects the allegations.
“This is a continuation of enemies’ plots to damage Iranian relations with Europe at this critical time,” Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Bahram Qasemi toold Tasnim news agency commenting on the accusations.
The ASMLA is a separatist group, which seeks to establsih a separate state within the Iranian oil-rich province of Khuzesta. The Iranian governent designates the ASMLA as a terrorist group. Furthermore, the ASMLA alongside with ISIS claimed responsibility for a terrorist attack during a military parade in the Khuzestan province of Iran in September. The attack resulted in the deaths of at least 25 people.
Thus, the Danish government, which has for a long time supported the terrorist group operating in Iran, is now accusing Teherran of attempts to deal with these terrorists.
