Iran has summoned Sweden’s ambassador following perceived “provocative” comments by Minister Johan Pehrson, who labeled Iran a “rogue state”. Iranian officials strongly refuted these accusations, warning that such rhetoric could harm diplomatic relations. Additionally, Iran criticized Sweden for demanding the release of an Iranian convicted of espionage.
Iran has summoned the Swedish ambassador to express strong discontent over remarks made by Sweden’s Minister of Education, Johan Pehrson, which Iran deemed as “provocative and baseless.” On Monday, the Swedish diplomat Mattias Otterstedt was called to the Iranian Foreign Ministry, where Shahram Qazizadeh, head of the ministry’s Western Europe department, articulated Iran’s formal protest against Pehrson’s statements.
The Swedish minister described Iran as a “rogue state” and a “sponsor of terrorism,” leading Qazizadeh to label the comments as “unfounded, interventionist, and a violation of international norms.” He further criticized Sweden for its persistent pattern of hostile rhetoric toward Iran and warned that such statements could exacerbate diplomatic tensions between the two countries.
Pehrson’s comments were reportedly triggered by a report from Expressen, which alleged ties of an Iranian student at Lund University to Iran’s intelligence services. Iran has vehemently refuted these claims, indicating they are part of a broader strategy to damage the nation’s reputation and obstruct academic collaboration.
Additionally, Qazizadeh condemned Sweden for summoning Iran’s ambassador in Stockholm, related to demands for the release of Ahmadreza Jalali. The Iranian-born Swedish citizen was convicted of espionage for Israel, particularly linked to actions resulting in the assassination of Iranian nuclear scientists.
Qazizadeh stressed that Sweden lacked the authority to interfere in Iran’s judicial matters. “The Swedish government is in no position to challenge the legal decisions of another country or advocate for individuals whose crimes have been established through due process,” he asserted.
In summary, the tensions between Iran and Sweden have escalated due to the latter’s minister’s derogatory remarks concerning Iran. The Iranian government firmly condemned these statements as a violation of international norms and reiterated its stance against foreign interference in its judicial matters. Both countries face a challenging diplomatic landscape as communication continues under strained circumstances.
Original Source: www.tehrantimes.com
