Danish Chargé d'Affaires Summoned Following 'Assault' on Iranian Embassy

On Wednesday, April 25, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic summoned the Danish Chargé d'Affaires in Tehran to protest against what it described as an 'assault' on the Iranian embassy. According to the Iranian Labor News Agency, ILNA, four Iranians allegedly 'assaulted' the Iranian embassy in Copenhagen, Denmark's capital, on the same day. The news agency, citing a statement from the Iranian Foreign Ministry, referred to these individuals as 'opponents.' However, the report did not specify the identities of the four Iranians nor explain the nature of their 'assault' on the embassy building. In response to this incident, the Director for Northern and Eastern Europe at the Iranian Foreign Ministry summoned the temporary chargé d'affaires of Denmark to the ministry in the absence of the Danish ambassador. The Foreign Ministry demanded that the Danish government take 'serious action against the perpetrators of this assault' and report back to the ministry. Iranian embassies in European countries have been sites of protests, especially since the controversial elections of 2009, which led to widespread demonstrations both inside and outside the country. In some European capitals, including Paris and Copenhagen, these protests have even resulted in attacks on embassy buildings, which have always been controlled by police.