Sweden and Iran conducted a prisoner swap on Saturday, facilitated by Oman. The exchange involved Sweden releasing a former Iranian official, Hamid Noury, and Iran freeing two Swedish nationals.
Hamid Noury, previously convicted in Sweden for his role in the 1988 mass execution of political prisoners in Iran, was welcomed in Tehran. Footage showed his arrival at Mehrabad airport, where his family greeted him on a red carpet.
The Swedes, Johan Floderus and Saeed Azizi had been detained in Iran under charges deemed wrongful by Sweden. They returned to Sweden on Saturday night and reunited with their families.
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson criticized Iran for using the Swedish nationals as negotiation tools to secure Noury’s release. He emphasized the government’s responsibility to ensure Swedish citizens’ safety and noted the intense efforts and negotiations involved.
Noury, arrested in Stockholm in 2019, had been sentenced to life for war crimes. He maintained his innocence, claiming his case was complex and sensitive.
The National Council of Resistance of Iran accused Sweden of succumbing to Tehran’s blackmail, potentially encouraging further hostage-taking. Representing plaintiffs against Noury, Kenneth Lewis expressed devastation over the release, calling it a blow to justice.
Floderus and Azizi, having endured severe conditions, were described by Kristersson as having experienced “hell on earth.” He requested privacy so they could recover with their families.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen praised Sweden’s efforts in securing the release of the detainees from “unjustified Iranian custody.”
Meanwhile, the case of another Swedish-Iranian, Ahmadreza Djalali, remains unresolved. Arrested in Iran in 2016, Djalali’s plight continues despite international calls for his release. Sweden vows to persist in efforts to secure his freedom.
