The assassination of ASMLA leadership was an alleged^[1] Iranian plot which took place in October 2018, when a Norwegian citizen of Iranian descent was arrested and suspected of having planned Iranian intelligence operations in Denmark.^[2][1][3] Both the Norwegian PST and the Danish PET also suspected the man to take part in the planning of an alleged^[4][5] assassination against the leader of the Iranian group Arab Struggle Movement for the Liberation of Ahvaz. He was arrested in Gothenburg on 21 October 2018.^[6][7] Denmark called for EU sanctions against Iran as a result.^[3][8] Tehran denied the allegation and raised suspicion over the timing of the incident, saying that the plot was devised to damage Iran-Europe relations at a critical time.^[3]

Denmark's security services accused Iranian intelligence service of plotting an assassination on Danish territory. Danish police believe the Norwegian citizen observed and photographed outside the residence of a Danish-Iranian leader of the Iranian separatist movement ASMLA (an organization that fights for independence for the Arabian-Iranian province Khuzestan).^[1][9] The search for the suspect led to a major security operation between Denmark and Sweden, including closing Denmark's borders. According to the Jerusalem Post, the suspect was found with photos of houses and apartments of ASMLA dissidents.^[10]

On October 21, 2018, a Norwegian citizen of Iranian descent was arrested on suspicion of helping Iranian intelligence service "to act in Denmark" and planning to kill an ASMLA member.^[11][12] Danish prime minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen protested the alleged^[4][5] assassination plot in social media.^[13]

According to the PET chief, there is reason to believe that the detained who now is in custody, has observed and photographed the leader of ASMLA's residence between 25-27 of September. He then intended to hand over the information gathered to Iranian authorities and also participating in the planning of an assassination plot of the ASMLA leader, which is stated in a press release from PET.^[14][9] Two additional Arab separatists living together in an apartment in Ringsted, 60km south-west of Copenhagen, were also targeted.^[9] Iran regards ASMLA as a terrorist organization.^[9] Norway summoned the Iranian ambassador over the incident.^[15][16]

In October 2018, Denmark recalled its ambassador to Iran.^[17]

The suspect, as well as Iran’s Foreign Ministry, have denied the accusations.^[18][19] In September 2018, Iran accused Denmark, the Netherlands, and Britain of hosting members of the Arab Struggle Movement for the Liberation of Ahvaz, which Iran considers to be a "terrorist group" and accuses of being responsible for a 2018 terrorist attack in Ahvaz.^[15]

In a 20 November 2018 session, the Radio & TV authority (Danish: Radio- og tv-nævnet) launched an investigation on whether broadcasts by the suspect amounted to hate speech or encouraging terrorism.^[20]