Minister of Intelligence on Assassination Allegations in Denmark: 'Zionist Conspiracy'

In response to allegations from Denmark regarding a planned assassination, the Minister of Intelligence of the Islamic Republic labeled the accusation a 'Zionist conspiracy.' The Foreign Ministry also expressed readiness for 'joint investigations' by inviting ambassadors from three European countries to Tehran. According to Tasnim News Agency, Mahmoud Alavi, the Iranian Minister of Intelligence, on Monday, November 5, described Denmark's claim that forces from his ministry attempted an assassination in the country as a 'Zionist conspiracy' aimed at 'affecting Iran's relations with the European Union.' This stance has also been echoed by other officials of the Islamic Republic. The Minister did not provide further details about the 'Zionist conspiracy' nor mention a specific country or group. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that his country has 'exposed Iran's attempts at sabotage in Europe.' Danish officials claim that the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence is involved in the case of an attempted assassination of a member of an Iranian separatist group in Denmark. In reaction to this accusation, the Iranian Foreign Ministry summoned the Danish ambassador last Wednesday. Meanwhile, on Sunday evening, Bahram Qasemi, the spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, stated that the Director General for Europe of the Iranian Foreign Ministry invited the ambassadors of Norway and Sweden and the Danish chargé d'affaires in Tehran to announce Iran's readiness for 'joint investigations to uncover the facts.' According to Mr. Qasemi, this Iranian Foreign Ministry official also expressed Iran's readiness for 'comprehensive and extensive cooperation, including in security areas' to these three countries. During this meeting, the Islamic Republic once again protested against the 'sheltering' of members of a group that has 'officially claimed responsibility' for an attack on armed forces in Ahvaz. Previously, Mohammad Javad Zarif, the Iranian Foreign Minister, had rejected the allegation of Iran's attempt to carry out an assassination in Denmark during a phone call with the Danish Foreign Minister and expressed Iran's readiness to 'cooperate with Danish security officials to clarify various aspects' of this issue. Denmark, while summoning the Iranian ambassador in Copenhagen and protesting against 'Iran's security service's plan to carry out an attack in this country,' has recalled its ambassador from Tehran. The Danish Security Service reported on Tuesday, November 30, that an Iranian-Norwegian citizen in the country was arrested on suspicion of collaborating with the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence and attempting to attack members of an opposition group. Danish police stated that this individual was seen taking photos of members of the 'Al-Ahwaz Liberation Movement' in Ringsted, 60 kilometers southwest of Copenhagen. This allegation comes as Ahmad Mola Abunahad, known as Ahmad Nissi, who is referred to as the founder of the 'Arab Liberation Movement of Ahwaz,' was also murdered on November 8, 2017, in front of his residence in The Hague. The 'Arab Liberation Movement of Ahwaz' has previously announced that it fights for 'the independence of Khuzestan province and its separation from Iran.' After the attack on the Iranian armed forces parade in Ahvaz, the Islamic Republic protested against the presence of members of this group on Danish soil. 'Yaqoub Hur Al-Tustari,' who introduced himself as the spokesperson for the 'Arab Liberation Movement of Ahwaz,' attributed this armed attack to a group known as 'National Resistance of Ahwaz' in an interview with Radio Farda. Meanwhile, following this attack, the Islamic Republic had previously protested against the presence of members of the 'Ahwaz Movement' on Danish soil and summoned the Danish ambassador, the Dutch ambassador, and the temporary chargé d'affaires of the British embassy in the absence of their ambassador. However, ISIS officially claimed responsibility for this attack, and the Islamic Republic retaliated by launching several missiles at the group's alleged headquarters in Syria. The accusations from Danish officials against the Islamic Republic arose four months after the arrest of an Iranian diplomat on charges of involvement in a plot to attack a meeting of the Mujahedin-e Khalq Organization in Paris. Meanwhile, some analysts consider this issue and other events, including reports about the assassination of Mohammad Reza Kolahi, the main perpetrator of the explosion at the Islamic Republic Party building, as signs of a possible new wave of assassinations of opponents of the Islamic Republic abroad.