Oman Mediates Successful Prisoner Transaction Between Iran and Sweden
Over the weekend, there seems to be a prisoner exchange between Iran and Sweden, mediated by Oman. Sources say that individuals from both nations were flown to Muscat, Oman's capital, according to Oman's Foreign Ministry. Historically, Oman has served as a diplomatic intermediary between Iran and the Western world.
As per news from Tehran, Hamid N., a Swedish citizen serving a life sentence in Sweden for his involvement in the mass executions of political prisoners in Iran during the late 1980s, is said to have been released. Yet, there's no confirmation regarding this matter from the Swedish officials. Kristersson did admit that Iran used the two Swedish citizens as leverage, aiming to secure the release of Hamid N. from Swedish custody.
According to Kristersson, Johan Floderus, an EU official, and Said Asisi, who was given a five-year prison sentence in Iran, are reported to have been set free from Iranian custody. There's news that at least one other Swedish individual, medic Ahmad Resa Djalali, is still detained in Iranian prisons.
Relations between Sweden and Iran have been on a downward spiral due to several diplomatic controversies. In May 2023, Tehran executed a Swedish-Iranian dissident, who was accused of terrorist activities. Critics have long claimed that Iran was using the detention of Swedish citizens to push for Hamid N.'s release.
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Following the mediated prisoner exchange, Oman has become a focal point for discussions between Sweden and Iran. The release of Hamid N., a Swedish citizen imprisoned in Iran for his role in mass executions, is a significant development, although Swedish authorities have yet to confirm this. Additionally, Johan Floderus, an EU official, and Said Asisi, serving a five-year sentence in Iran, have reportedly been freed as part of the exchange.
