Iran Calls Swedish Ambassador Over Education Minister’s Controversial Remarks
Iran summoned the Swedish ambassador over Minister Johan Pehrson’s comments, which labeled Iran as a rogue state. Shahram Qazizadeh criticized Pehrson’s statements as baseless, warning them as damaging to diplomatic relations. This incident also involves the case of Ahmadreza Jalali, raising issues about Sweden’s interference in Iranian legal matters.
Iran has summoned the Swedish ambassador to Tehran following comments made by Sweden’s Minister of Education, Johan Pehrson, deemed “provocative and baseless.” On Monday, Mattias Otterstedt, the Swedish diplomat, was called to the Iranian Foreign Ministry. Shahram Qazizadeh, the head of the Third Department for Western Europe, voiced Iran’s formal protest against Pehrson’s labeling of Iran as a “rogue state” and a “sponsor of terrorism” to the Swedish daily, Expressen.
Qazizadeh characterized Pehrson’s remarks as “unfounded, interventionist, and a violation of international norms.” He criticized the Swedish government for its ongoing pattern of unfounded accusations and hostile rhetoric towards Iran, cautioning that such statements could exacerbate tensions in diplomatic relations between the two countries. These remarks by Pehrson were a response to allegations reported by Expressen, claiming that an Iranian student at Lund University had ties to Iranian intelligence, a claim Iran staunchly denies, asserting it is part of a wider Western agenda to malign the nation.
In addition, Qazizadeh condemned Sweden’s recent action of summoning Iran’s ambassador to Stockholm, regarding the case of Ahmadreza Jalali. Jalali, an Iranian-born Swedish resident convicted in Iran for espionage linked to Israel’s Mossad, has been a point of contention, with Sweden’s demands for his immediate release. Qazizadeh stressed that Sweden lacks the authority to intervene in Iran’s legal matters or challenge its judicial system, stating, “The Swedish government is in no position to challenge the legal decisions of another country or advocate for individuals whose crimes have been established through due process.”
In summary, Iran’s recent summoning of the Swedish ambassador underscores escalating diplomatic tensions between the two nations. The Iranian government firmly rejected Minister Johan Pehrson’s claims labeling Iran as a rogue state, emphasizing the baselessness of such accusations. Furthermore, with issues surrounding the treatment of individuals like Ahmadreza Jalali, both countries’ legal frameworks are being put to the test as they grapple with mutual assertions of sovereignty and judicial integrity.
Original Source: www.tehrantimes.com
