Tehran orders Swedish diplomat to leave in tit-for-tat expulsion

Iran has ordered a Swedish diplomat to leave Tehran within 48 hours, a direct retaliatory measure following Stockholm’s expulsion of an Iranian embassy official the previous day. The move marks a sharp escalation in diplomatic tensions between the two nations, with both sides invoking the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations to justify their respective actions.

The Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs described Sweden’s decision as “unjustified,” attributing it to the influence of the “Zionist regime.” In a statement reported by the IRNA news agency, the ministry claimed the Swedish action was an effort to disrupt the normal activities of the Iranian Embassy in Stockholm. The ministry further protested Sweden’s policies, specifically citing the “hosting of anti-Irianian terrorist elements and groups.”

Alireza Yousefi, the Iranian Foreign Ministry’s director general for Western Europe, summoned the Swedish ambassador in Tehran on Thursday to convey the departure order. During the meeting, Yousefi informed the ambassador that a Swedish diplomat in Tehran had been given 48 hours to leave the country. The ministry stated that Iran would take necessary measures to safeguard its national rights and interests, including through reciprocal action.

In Stockholm, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs announced on Wednesday that the Iranian official was asked to leave due to activity incompatible with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard stated that the decision was taken to protect Swedish citizens and interests. The Vienna Convention defines the rules governing diplomatic missions, a framework both parties have cited to underpin their legal positions.

Swedish Justice Minister Gunnar Strommer provided further context to state television, alleging that Iran had conducted activities against “Jewish and Israeli interests” over a long period. Strommer stated that these activities threatened security in and against Sweden, adding that Iran was “making use of criminal networks” to achieve its objectives.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry also referenced Sweden’s obligations under international law, warning that any disruption of the Iranian embassy’s duties would entail Sweden’s international responsibility. As the 48-hour deadline for the Swedish diplomat begins to count, the incident highlights the fragility of diplomatic relations in the region.