A Swedish citizen was executed in Iran on Wednesday morning. Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (M) describes it as abhorrent and states that Iran's ambassador to Sweden was summoned with the strongest protests.
A Swedish citizen was executed in Iran on Wednesday morning, the Swedish government confirms. The individual was arrested by Iranian authorities in June 2025, and the case became known to the Foreign Ministry in December that year when Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard (M) confirmed the man was imprisoned. The person arrived in Sweden in 2015 and became a Swedish citizen in 2019, but Iran has not recognized the citizenship, hindering consular access and forcing monitoring from afar. Malmer Stenergard describes the legal process as highly deficient. Late on Tuesday, she sought contact with Iran's foreign minister to protest but received no response. Protests have been lodged in both Stockholm and Tehran. Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson tells TT: 'It is truly abhorrent, but unfortunately not entirely surprising.' He adds: 'The Iranian regime bears full responsibility for this' and 'We have known about this case since June 2025. We have had many contacts and demanded his release and removal of death penalty risks. Yet they have done this anyway.' Relations between Sweden and Iran are already strained, partly due to Sweden's pressure on the regime. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas condemns the execution: 'A brutal and meaningless act of violence that we condemn.' Another Swedish citizen, Ahmadreza Djalali, remains imprisoned in Iran and sentenced to death.
