Kayhan Newspaper Reports on Swedish National's Sentence Before Court's Conclusion; 'Heavy and Regrettable'

The confirmation of Hamid Nouri's sentence in the Swedish appeals court has led the Kayhan newspaper to criticize this event while unofficially reporting on the verdict of the Swedish national, declaring it 'heavy' and 'regrettable.' Many believe that this statement from Kayhan is perceived as a position of the regime and is considered a 'retaliatory' action. The newspaper, managed by Hossein Shariatmadari, representative of Ali Khamenei, claimed regarding Hamid Nouri's case that 'this case was formed four years ago with malice and the orchestration of members of the terrorist group Mojahedin-e Khalq under the pretext of Hamid Nouri's judicial responsibility over three decades ago.' The author of this government newspaper threatened Swedish officials, stating that 'the judicial and government officials of Sweden should not forget that at the end of the proceedings regarding the accusations against the Swedish national accused of intelligence cooperation with Israel, they can expect a heavy and regrettable conviction for this Swedish national according to domestic and international laws.' The Swedish Foreign Minister announced on Saturday, December 9, that a court in Tehran has begun the trial of Johan Flodros, a Swedish citizen working for the European Union, who was arrested in Iran last year. According to Iranian media reports, the Ministry of Intelligence of the Islamic Republic announced on July 30 that a 'Swedish national' had been arrested on charges of 'espionage' while exiting the country. The Ministry of Intelligence claimed that the arrested individual had communicated with several 'suspected European and non-European elements' who were 'under surveillance' in Iran and had a history of travel to Israel 'prior to arriving in Iran.' Last week, one day after the announcement of the Swedish appeals court ruling, which confirmed the 'life imprisonment' of Hamid Nouri, accused of involvement in the mass execution of political prisoners in the 1980s, the spokesperson for the judiciary of the Islamic Republic spoke about the third session of the trial of the imprisoned Swedish citizen in Iran, on charges of 'corruption on earth.' The judiciary spokesperson announced on December 20 that the third hearing of Flodros's case would be held in Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court on December 21, just one day before the announcement of the Swedish appeals court ruling regarding Hamid Nouri's case. According to Setayesh, the Swedish chargé d'affaires was also present at the court session. Since the news of Flodros's arrest was published after several hundred days, analysts have linked this arrest and case-making to the Islamic Republic's efforts to bring back Hamid Nouri. The judicial process of this Swedish citizen's case also indicates that the Islamic Republic officials are pursuing the same path. Kayhan's claim regarding the court ruling, before the court sessions were completed, is another sign that the Islamic Republic officials are using Flodros's case as leverage to influence Nouri's case. Johan Flodros was arrested on April 17, 2022, while on a recreational trip to Iran with his friends on charges of 'espionage.' Flodros's family has stated that he was arrested at the airport upon his return 'without any legitimate reason or legal process.' The Iranian government denies the political nature of this arrest. Relations between Stockholm and Tehran have soured since 2019 when Sweden arrested Hamid Nouri for his role in the mass execution and torture of political prisoners in the 1980s. After several court sessions, Nouri was sentenced to life imprisonment last year. One day after Nouri's sentence was confirmed in Sweden, the judiciary announced the third session of Flodros's trial on charges of 'corruption on earth.' The life sentence of Hamid Nouri was confirmed in Sweden; the Islamic Republic condemned it; opponents expressed satisfaction. The Swedish appeals court confirmed Hamid Nouri's life sentence. Sweden: The Islamic Republic must immediately release Johan Flodros. The trial of Johan Flodros, a Swedish citizen in Iran, has begun; accusation: intelligence cooperation with Israel. Sweden announced the start of the trial of a national of this country in Iran; Johan Flodros has been imprisoned in Iran for a year and a half. Human Rights Watch: Global efforts for the immediate release of Johan Flodros should increase. The case of Johan Flodros, the imprisoned Swedish diplomat, has been sent to court. Amnesty International has called for the release of Johan Flodros, the Swedish diplomat of the European Union, in Iran.