The security situation in Sweden, owing to the operations of foreign powers like Iran, Russia and China, is serious and there are clear risks that it can worsen, Sweden’s security police (SAPO) said on Tuesday in an annual report into threats facing the country.
Foreign powers are operating in ways that threaten security and they are using hybrid activities to destabilise Sweden and Europe, the report said.
Swedish authorities have fretted in recent years about increasing threats from both foreign powers like Russia, China and Iran and extremists groups engaging in actions ranging from violent attacks and hybrid warfare to corporate espionage.
“There is a tangible risk that the security situation can deteriorate further and that can occur in a way that is hard to predict,” Charlotte von Essen, the head of the security police, said in a statement.
“Iran’s primary objective is to secure and strengthen its regime, closely linked to protecting the country from perceived external threats and circumventing sanctions,” SAPO’s statement said as quoted by Iran International website.
“These priorities influence the security-threatening activities carried out by Iranian security and intelligence services against Sweden.”
According to the site, SAPO reported increased Iranian activities in Sweden over the past year, including efforts to pressure opposition figures and their families.
Iranian intelligence services have reportedly used criminal networks to conduct violent acts targeting Israeli interests and groups perceived as threats, it said.
“The use of criminal actors is not new or unique to Iran but has occurred to a greater extent over the past year, with notably younger actors involved during 2024,” SAPO added, according to Iran International.
(With inputs from Reuters)
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