Iran Expels Swedish Diplomat Following Stockholm's Ouster of Iranian Official Amid Security Dispute

Iran has ordered a Swedish diplomat to leave the country within 48 hours following Sweden's decision to expel an Iranian official, according to the Iranian Foreign Ministry. The diplomatic fallout stems from accusations by the Swedish government that Iranian officials operating from the Stockholm embassy utilized criminal networks to target opposition groups on Swedish soil.

After summoning Swedish ambassador Mathias Otterstedt on Thursday, Iran rejected the allegations, with the Iranian Foreign Ministry dismissing the Swedish action as lacking any "justified reason." A statement from the ministry claimed, "Without doubt, this action by the Swedish government is the result of the influence of the Zionist regime and an effort to disrupt the normal activities of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s embassy in Stockholm." During the meeting, Alireza Yousefi, director of the Foreign Ministry’s Western Europe Department, further accused Sweden of "hosting anti-Iranian terrorist elements and groups."

International concerns have mounted regarding Iran allegedly leveraging criminal networks in Europe to target overseas dissidents and Jewish organizations. Swedish politicians believe that Rawa Majid, a Swedish crime boss, is currently hiding in Iran. Earlier this year, a Norwegian teenager faced accusations of recruitment by Majid's Foxtrot group to carry out a murder in England. Additionally, security incidents have targeted the Israeli embassy in Stockholm, including a hand grenade discovered on its grounds in February 2024 and a subsequent shooting months later, with the Swedish government suggesting potential links to Iran.

While Sweden did not explicitly raise these specific cases in this recent diplomatic exchange, Justice Minister Gunnar Strommer stated to AFP on Wednesday that Iranian security threats have persisted "over a long period of time." Strommer noted, "We know that Iran, over a long period of time, has conducted activities that threaten security in and against Sweden, targeting both individuals who oppose the Iranian regime and various Jewish and Israeli interests in our country." He added that these operations involved the use of criminal networks. Currently, several Iranian opposition groups maintain an official presence in Sweden, including exiled Kurdish parties and supporters of the People's Mujaheddin of Iran.