Sweden expels Iranian embassy official over alleged activities against security

Sweden’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that it has summoned Iran’s ambassador in Stockholm and asked an official of the Iranian embassy to leave the country, for “activity incompatible with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations,” without giving further details.

Swedish Justice Minister Gunnar Strommer told the AFP agency that Iran has carried out “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.”

“This has been done, among other things, by using criminal networks,” Strommer said.

The Swedish Security Service (Sapo) had previously accused Iran of recruiting members of criminal gangs to carry out “acts of violence” against Israeli and other interests in Sweden — a claim Tehran has denied.

The move comes at a time of rising tensions between Iran and European countries, as the U.S.–Iran war expands its influence into European diplomacy as well.

Source: Al Jazeera (citing AFP) — https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2026/9/16/iran-war-live-irans-top-diplomat-heads-to-china-as-war-drags-on