Swedish authorities confirm that Iran has carried out the execution of a Swedish citizen arrested last year on charges of espionage to benefit the Israeli government.
On 18 Mar 2026 GMT+7, Maria Malmer Stenergard, Sweden's Minister for Foreign Affairs, stated in a press release that the Iranian government executed a Swedish citizen on Wednesday, accusing the individual of espionage.
"It is clear to us that the legal process leading to the execution of this Swedish citizen lacked legal guarantees," Stenergard said. "Sweden will continue to condemn serious human rights violations in Iran."
The Swedish government did not name the executed citizen, but Iranian state media identified him as Kourosh Keyvani, who was arrested last year on charges of "cooperating in intelligence and espionage activities to benefit the Israeli government."
"Sweden has raised this case multiple times at various levels with Iranian representatives since the arrest in June 2025 GMT+7. In those communications, we emphasized Sweden’s expectation that our citizen should receive a fair trial and not be sentenced to death," Stenergard said in the statement.
Keyvani held dual citizenship (Swedish and Iranian). He is the third man Iran has executed on espionage charges this year, according to Iran Human Rights, a Norway-based human rights group, which reported at least 13 similar executions last year.
Currently, hundreds of Iranians remain on death row, including many considered political prisoners. Several have not yet been sentenced but may face execution in the future.
"The death penalty is an inhumane, cruel, and irreversible punishment. Sweden, along with other European Union members, condemns its use in all cases," the Swedish Foreign Minister concluded.
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Source:cnn