Severe Concern Expressed by Five Scandinavian Countries Over Iran's 'Assassination' Plot

On Wednesday, November 1, the foreign ministers of five Scandinavian countries met in Norway and issued a joint statement expressing serious concern over reports regarding the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence's attempt to carry out an 'assassination' on Danish soil against opponents of the Islamic Republic. These officials stated that they consider this matter 'very serious' and emphasized that 'such actions are completely unacceptable.' The foreign ministers of Sweden, Norway, Finland, Iceland, and Denmark announced: 'We have taken the information provided by Denmark regarding the plot for an assassination by an Iranian intelligence agent very seriously. At this time, we express our full solidarity with our Danish friends and allies.' The mentioned ministers condemned any threats against the security of Scandinavian countries and stated: 'It is important for Scandinavian countries to stand shoulder to shoulder against the threats facing their societies.' On Tuesday, the Danish Security Service reported that a Norwegian citizen of Iranian descent had been arrested in the country on suspicion of collaborating with the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence and attempting to attack members of the 'Ahvaz Movement.' In this context, Lars Løkke Rasmussen, the Prime Minister of Denmark, called the actions attributed to the Iranian security apparatus unacceptable and emphasized that he would raise the issue within the European Union. In response, Denmark has recalled its ambassador for consultations from Tehran and officials in the country have stated that they are seeking a joint action in the European Union to sanction Iran. Meanwhile, Mahmoud Vaezi, the head of the Iranian President's office, announced on Wednesday that Hassan Rouhani had ordered a 'thorough investigation' into this matter, and the results of this investigation will be announced upon its completion. Vaezi described the timing of these accusations, just before November 4, when new U.S. sanctions against Iran are set to begin, as '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 accused Iranian security agencies of planning attacks on its soil in recent months. Previously, Belgium reported the arrest of several Iranian nationals on charges of plotting an attack on a National Council of Resistance meeting in Paris, while Germany also detained an Iranian diplomat stationed in Austria in this regard. France has also reported arrests related to this case, although Emmanuel Macron, the President of France, recently stated that it is unclear which part of the Iranian regime was responsible for this action. Additionally, the Netherlands recently expelled two Iranian embassy staff members from the country.