Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com

STOCKHOLM, June 23 (Reuters) – Sweden’s foreign ministry has advised its citizens against travelling to Iran ahead of the conclusion of a trial that has soured relations between the two countries.

“Due to the security situation, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs advises against all travel to Iran,” the ministry said in a statement.

Relations between the two countries soured after Sweden put on trial a former Iranian official on charges of war crimes for the mass execution and torture of political prisoners at an Iranian prison in the 1980s. The verdict is due on July 14. read more

Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com

In turn, Sweden has strongly condemned the death sentence of Ahmadreza Djalali, a Swedish-Iranian disaster medicine researcher that Iran has accused of spying for Israel. read more

“In recent times, expressions of dissatisfaction with Sweden and other European countries have increased. Iran has in various ways expressed its dissatisfaction with an ongoing trial against an Iranian citizen in Sweden,” Swedish news agency TT said, citing the Foreign Ministry.

Sweden had previously advised against all unnecessary travel to Iran. read more

Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards have arrested dozens of dual nationals and foreigners in recent years, mostly on espionage charges. Rights activists have accused Iran of using them as bargaining chips. Iran, which does not recognise dual nationality, denies taking prisoners to gain diplomatic leverage.

However, Iran has exchanged several jailed foreigners and dual nationals with Iranians detained abroad.

Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com

Reporting by Johan Ahlander
Editing by Bernadette Baum

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Read More

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *