Iran Orders Swedish Diplomat to Leave Within 48 Hours After Expulsion of Iranian Envoy

Iran's Foreign Ministry said on Thursday that it had summoned Sweden's ambassador to Tehran and informed him that a Swedish diplomat in Iran has been given 48 hours to leave the country. The move came in response to Sweden's decision to expel an employee of Iran's embassy in Stockholm over what Swedish authorities described as security concerns.

In a statement, the ministry condemned Sweden's action as unjustified and contrary to international law. It said Sweden had required the Iranian diplomat to leave "without any justified reason" while at the same time making what Tehran called baseless allegations about Iran's involvement in Sweden's security affairs. "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," the statement said.

The ministry referred to Sweden's obligations under international law, including the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, and warned that disruption of the Iranian embassy's duties would entail Sweden's international responsibility. It said Iran would take the necessary measures to safeguard its national rights and interests, including through reciprocal action.

The Swedish ambassador was summoned on Thursday morning by Alireza Yousefi, director general of the ministry's Western Europe Department, where Iran conveyed a strong protest over what it described as Sweden's destructive policies toward Iran. According to the ministry, the ambassador was also informed of Iran's objection to Sweden's decision regarding the Iranian diplomat and to other issues, including Sweden's "hosting of anti-Iranian terrorist elements and groups." During the meeting, the ambassador was told that one Swedish diplomat in Tehran had been given 48 hours to leave Iran, and the reasons for the decision were explained to him.

According to Mehr News, the exchange marks a further deterioration in relations between Tehran and Stockholm, which have been strained in recent years over a range of security and diplomatic disputes.