Iran Summons Swedish Diplomat Over Accusations of Using Criminal Gangs Against Israeli Interests
On Sunday, Iran summoned the temporary Swedish Chargé d'Affaires in Tehran to protest what it described as 'malicious and incorrect accusations' from Stockholm. The Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement that the charges were in response to Swedish intelligence claiming Tehran was using 'criminal gangs' to attack Israel and its interests in Sweden. This summoning followed the Swedish Foreign Ministry's summon of the Iranian Chargé d'Affaires on Friday.
On Thursday, Swedish newspaper Dagens Nyheter cited documents from Israeli Mossad, alleging that two major gang leaders in Sweden, Rawa Majid of the Foxtrot network and Ismail Abdo of the Rumba gang, were working for Iranian interests. These allegations, further elaborated at a Swedish intelligence press conference, claimed that the Iranian regime utilized criminal networks to conduct acts of violence against groups or individuals in Sweden that it perceives as a threat.
The accusations come in the wake of various incidents targeting Israeli interests in Sweden. These include shots fired near the Israeli embassy in Stockholm two weeks ago and an explosive device discovered there four months prior. Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billström condemned these allegations, stating that 'Sweden will not be a platform where state actors use criminal networks to promote their own interests.'
In response, the Iranian embassy in Stockholm denounced the 'false information' and expressed hope that the Swedish media would not trust reports from Israeli sources. 'Unfortunately, some Swedish media outlets have cited false and baseless claims from institutions affiliated with this brutal regime (Israel),' read a statement from the Iranian embassy.
- The strained relations between Sweden and Iran are part of a broader pattern of diplomatic tensions involving Israel. Both European and Middle Eastern countries have seen increased diplomatic and media activity centered around alleged state-sponsored actions.
- Dagens Nyheter's report has increased scrutiny on the influence and activities of international criminal networks and their potential state affiliations. This could lead to tighter security protocols and increased cooperation between intelligence agencies globally.
- Iran's call for restraint and fact-checking by the Swedish media highlights the ongoing information warfare and the critical role of the media in shaping public perception and policy decisions.
