Iran expels Swedish diplomat in retaliatory move

Tehran gives Swedish official 48 hours to leave as Iran says Stockholm is bowing down to outside pressure.

A general view of the Iranian Embassy in London [Dan Kitwood/Getty Images]

Iran has ordered a Swedish diplomat to leave the country one day after Sweden expelled an Iranian embassy official in Stockholm.

Sweden’s action was described by Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs as “unjustified” on Thursday.

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“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 Foreign Ministry said in a statement, Iran’s IRNA news agency reported.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry said its director general for Western Europe, Alireza Yousefi, summoned the Swedish ambassador in Tehran on Thursday. Yousefi protested Sweden’s policies, including its “⁠hosting of anti-Iranian terrorist elements and groups”.

The ministry said Iran would take necessary measures to safeguard its national rights and interests, including through reciprocal action.

IRNA reports that in response to Sweden’s actions, the ambassador was informed in the meeting that a Swedish diplomat in Tehran had been given 48 hours to leave Iran.

Sweden expels Iranian official

Sweden’s Ministry for Foreign Affairs announced on Wednesday that the Iranian official was asked to leave the country due to activity incompatible ‌with ⁠the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.

The Vienna Convention defines ⁠the rules of ⁠diplomatic missions.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry also referenced Sweden’s obligations under international law, including the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, warning that disruption of the Iranian embassy’s duties would entail Sweden’s international responsibility, reported IRNA.

Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard said the decision to expel the Iranian official was taken to protect Swedish citizens and interests.

Swedish Justice Minister Gunnar Strommer told state television that the decision involved Iran’s alleged activities against “Jewish and Israeli interests”.

“We know that Iran, over a long period of time, has conducted activities that threaten security in and against Sweden,” Strommer said, adding that Iran was “making use of criminal networks” to achieve its objectives.

伊朗方面要求瑞典官员在48小时内离境，并称斯德哥尔摩屈服于外部压力。

伊朗驻伦敦大使馆全景 [Dan Kitwood/Getty Images]

在瑞典驱逐伊朗驻斯德哥尔摩大使馆官员一天后，伊朗下令一名瑞典外交官离开该国。

周四，伊朗外交部称瑞典的行动“毫无道理”。

联合国实况调查团（共3个）称，美国可能在伊朗犯下战争罪行（名单1）。

俄罗斯和中国否决联合国监督伊朗制裁的授权（共3项，此为第2项）

美国批准伊朗高级领导人出席联合国大会的签证（共3份，此为第3份）。

据伊朗伊通社报道，伊朗外交部在一份声明中表示：“毫无疑问，瑞典政府的这一行动是犹太复国主义政权影响的结​​果，旨在扰乱伊朗伊斯兰共和国驻斯德哥尔摩大使馆的正常活动。”

伊朗外交部表示，其西欧事务总干事阿里雷扎·尤塞菲周四召见了瑞典驻德黑兰大使。尤塞菲抗议瑞典的政策，包括其“庇护反伊朗恐怖分子和团体”。

该部表示，伊朗将采取必要措施维护其国家权利和利益，包括采取对等行动。

据伊朗伊斯兰共和国通讯社 (IRNA) 报道，为回应瑞典的行动，大使在会晤中被告知，一名瑞典驻德黑兰外交官已被勒令在 48 小时内离开伊朗。

瑞典驱逐伊朗官员

瑞典外交部周三宣布，由于伊朗官员的活动与《维也纳外交关系公约》不符，瑞典已要求其离境。

《维也纳外交关系公约》规定了外交使团的规则。

据伊朗伊斯兰共和国通讯社（IRNA）报道，伊朗外交部还援引了瑞典在国际法下的义务，包括1961年《维也纳外交关系公约》，警告说，扰乱伊朗大使馆的职责将使瑞典承担国际责任。

瑞典外交大臣玛丽亚·马尔默·斯泰纳加德表示，驱逐伊朗官员的决定是为了保护瑞典公民和利益。

瑞典司法部长贡纳尔·斯特罗默告诉国家电视台，该决定涉及伊朗涉嫌针对“犹太人和以色列人的利益”的活动。

斯特罗默表示：“我们知道，伊朗长期以来一直在进行威胁瑞典境内外安全的活动。”他还补充说，伊朗正在“利用犯罪网络”来实现其目标。