Modern Blackmail: Sweden, Mossad, and a Security Case
WANA (Mar 11) – Why is Sweden investing so much in Ahmadreza Jalali, a security suspect? What could push a peaceful European country to mobilize its diplomacy, media, and all its pressure tools for the release of one individual? And not just any individual—neither a businessman nor a journalist, but someone accused of leaking classified information about Iran’s nuclear scientists to Mossad.
Why has this self-proclaimed human rights advocate remained silent about the assassinations of Iranian nuclear scientists, yet now, it is deploying its entire diplomatic apparatus to secure the release of someone implicated in those very operations?
The answer is simple: this is not about humanitarianism or human rights concerns. It is entangled in a complex web of political and security deals.
Sweden’s Foreign Ministry recently summoned Iran’s ambassador, demanding the immediate release of dual-national prisoner Ahmadreza Jalali on humanitarian grounds and requesting medical services for him. The ministry also protested his death sentence and urged Tehran not to carry it out.
Let’s revisit the story—but this time, with a closer look at the path that led here. Ahmadreza Jalali, a physician and researcher, traveled to Sweden for an academic visit, only to receive an offer far more enticing than research opportunities. When did Mossad start investing in him? The moment it realized he had access to critical information.
An Iranian protester holds the Quran in his hand during a protest against a man who burned a copy of the Quran outside a mosque in the Swedish capital Stockholm, in front of the Swedish Embassy in Tehran, Iran July 3, 2023. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency)
Jalali, who had connections to Iran’s scientific and security projects, was initially drawn in through research proposals. But soon, he reached a point of no return. His own statements and evidence show that Mossad provided him with two secure phone lines and extracted sensitive information from him during multiple meetings. These details were later used to plan the assassinations of nuclear scientists such as Majid Shahriari and Massoud Ali-Mohammadi—both of whom Jalali personally knew. The outcome? Two assassinated scientists, while Jalali, instead of sharing their fate, gained European citizenship and Swedish protection.
Ahmadreza Jalali, an Iranian physician and researcher, was arrested in 2016 on charges of espionage for Israel’s Mossad and sentenced to death.
In 2018, while serving his sentence, Sweden granted him citizenship.
Sweden’s unwavering support for a security suspect like Jalali is not easily justifiable. But this is not an isolated case. Sweden has increasingly become a safe haven for groups openly hostile to Iran. A quick look at its record with anti-Iranian elements reveals a pattern:
Habib Chaab (Habib Asyud), leader of the Arab separatist group Al-Ahvaziya, was sheltered in Sweden while orchestrating terrorist attacks against Iran.
On the Occasion of Hamid Nouri’s Release
WANA (June 16) – Hamid Nouri, an Iranian citizen, became a victim of a political situation when he was arrested in Sweden in 2019. The manner in which his arrest and case were handled suggests that Hamid Nouri’s issue is more political than judicial. Hamid Nouri, an Iranian citizen and former judiciary employee, traveled […]
Hamid Nouri, an Iranian national, was arrested under dubious allegations of war crimes and murder—charges that lacked concrete evidence—and was subjected to a highly politicized trial.
Members of the MEK (Mujahedin-e-Khalq), a group with a long history of terrorist attacks against Iran, have operated freely in Sweden.
And now, instead of addressing these cases, Sweden accuses Iran of espionage and has even detained Mohsen Hakim Elahi, the director of the Imam Ali Islamic Center in Stockholm. Is this merely a diplomatic misstep, or part of a larger strategy to pressure Iran?
This is not the first time a European country has used human rights as a tool to extract political and security concessions. The modern model of hostage-taking is no longer confined to official detentions—it is now deeply embedded in media campaigns and international pressure tactics. Sweden knows that Jalali’s case is not just an internal Iranian matter but a part of a broader conflict between Tehran and Mossad.
Sweden Accuses Iran of Espionage Through Shiite Mosque
WANA (Feb 04) – Sweden has accused Iran of using a Shiite mosque in Stockholm for espionage against the country and Iranian “migrants” residing there. Sweden’s Minister for Social Affairs, Jakob Forssmed, claimed on the social media platform X that Iran was using the Imam Ali Islamic Center in Stockholm as a base for […]
Sweden, a country that has harbored terrorists, is now accusing an Islamic center in Stockholm of being an Iranian spy hub. Just weeks ago, it arrested Mohsen Hakim Elahi on similar charges. This scenario is not a coincidence—it follows a clear pattern in Sweden’s foreign policy.
Despite mounting pressure, Iran has shown no signs of backing down on Jalali’s execution. Sweden now finds itself in a dilemma: every move it makes complicates the case further. If it pushes too hard, it raises the question—why is it going to such lengths for a convicted spy? If it backs down, it effectively admits diplomatic failure.
Now, the ball is in Sweden’s court: How far is it willing to go to protect a pawn that has already been played?
