Danish Prime Minister Calls for a 'Unified Response' from the European Union to Iran

On Wednesday, November 1, the Danish Prime Minister announced that the country is in contact with European allies and expressed hope for a unified response to Iran regarding accusations of the Islamic Republic's attempt to orchestrate an attack on Danish soil. Simultaneously, the spokesperson for the EU's foreign policy condemned Tehran for its alleged attempt to design an 'attack' in Denmark. Following the Danish Security Service's announcement on Tuesday, which accused Iran of planning an 'attack' and reported the arrest of a Norwegian citizen of Iranian descent in this context, Lars Løkke Rasmussen, the Danish Prime Minister, deemed the actions attributed to Iran's security apparatus unacceptable and emphasized that he would raise the issue within the EU. In this regard, Denmark recalled its ambassador from Tehran and officials have stated that they are seeking a joint action within the EU to sanction Iran. On Wednesday, the Danish Prime Minister reiterated the necessity to show Iran that they are aware of what has transpired and will not accept it. Rasmussen, speaking alongside other Nordic Prime Ministers in Norway, also emphasized his desire to maintain the nuclear deal with Iran (JCPOA). In a similar position to the Danish Prime Minister's statements, a spokesperson for the EU also condemned the Iranian regime for designing an 'attack' in Denmark but stressed that this incident should not undermine the EU's efforts to support the nuclear deal with Iran. Maya Koutsiantich, spokesperson for Federica Mogherini, the EU's foreign policy chief, stated that they condemn any threats to the EU's security and take every incident seriously. She added that therefore, they are concerned about security threats, especially in Denmark, in solidarity with all EU members. The United States, which has exited the nuclear deal and reinstated sanctions against Iran, has raised concerns among European companies regarding continued trade and investment in Iran. On Tuesday, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo emphasized that 'for nearly 40 years, Europe has been the target of Iran-supported terrorist attacks, and we urge our allies and partners to confront the broad range of threats posed by Iran for the sake of peace and security.' However, Federica Mogherini's spokesperson stressed that efforts to maintain the nuclear deal do not mean that Europe will overlook other issues such as Iran's ballistic missile program and its involvement in regional conflicts. She also stated that they believe the JCPOA, which pursues a specific goal, should remain in place, as while other issues must be addressed seriously, the nuclear agreement itself is a component of security. The Iranian Foreign Ministry, which had previously protested to Denmark regarding the presence of some supporters and members of the 'Ahvaz' separatist movement, rejected the accusations of planning an attack in Denmark and summoned the Danish ambassador just hours before his departure to Denmark. Mahmoud Vaezi, head of the Iranian President's office, also announced on Wednesday that Hassan Rouhani has ordered a 'thorough investigation' into this matter, and the results of this investigation will be announced upon its completion. Vaezi called the timing of these accusations, just before November 4 when new U.S. sanctions against Iran are set to begin, 'suspicious' and claimed, without naming anyone, that some are seeking to undermine negotiations between Iran and Europe regarding the preservation of the JCPOA. However, Denmark is not the only European country that has recently accused Iranian security institutions of planning attacks on its soil. Previously, Belgium reported the arrest of several Iranian nationals accused of planning an attack on a National Council of Resistance meeting in Paris, and it was also announced that Germany had arrested an Iranian diplomat stationed in Austria in this regard. France also reported arrests related to this case, although President Emmanuel Macron recently stated that it is unclear which part of the Iranian government was responsible for this action. Additionally, the Netherlands recently expelled two Iranian embassy staff members from the country.