Denmark wants the European Union to impose fresh sanctions on Iran after finding evidence of a planned assassination of an Iranian national on the Nordic country.
Danish Foreign Minister Anders Samuelsen says the information he has received from his country’s intelligence service leaves “no doubt” that Iran’s government was planning to murder one of its citizens in Denmark.
Denmark, which has recalled its ambassador from Tehran as ties between the two countries collapse, says it has received strong backing from the U.K. and the U.S. in its calls for new sanctions against Iran. Samuelsen made clear, however, that such measures wouldn’t affect Denmark’s commitment to Europe’s role in the Iran nuclear deal, which he says remains in his country’s “best interests.”
Large parts of Denmark were cordoned off on Sept. 28 as police across the country worked to prevent the planned assassination. Iran has denied that it had any involvement in such plans.
Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said Denmark chose to make public its knowledge of the planned assassination on its soil “to show Iran that we won’t accept such behavior,” according to comments to newswire Ritzau. “This isn’t something that’s just happening in Denmark. The Iranians are also active in other countries.”
In a Tweet, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo praised Denmark for thwarting the attack, and used the opportunity to urge “allies and partners to confront the full range of Iran’s threats to peace and security.”
