Sweden summons Iran's ambassador to seek release of dual national

Sweden’s foreign ministry summoned Iran’s ambassador on Friday, demanding the immediate release of Ahmadreza Djalali, a Swedish-Iranian academic on death row in Tehran, citing serious concerns about his worsening health.

“We have received highly concerning reports about Ahmadreza Djalali’s deteriorating health," the ministry said in a statement, adding that Iran’s ambassador had been urgently summoned.

During the meeting Sweden urged Iran to free Djalali on humanitarian grounds, according to the statement. “The summons demanded that Ahmadreza Djalali be immediately released on humanitarian grounds so that he can be reunited with his family.”

Sweden also called for urgent medical treatment for Djalali as his health condition deteriorates. “At the same time, he must immediately receive the medical care he so clearly needs.”

Djalali, a specialist in disaster medicine, was arrested in 2016 during a visit to Iran and later sentenced to death on charges of espionage—a conviction widely criticized by international human rights organizations as unfounded. Amnesty International said his sentence was issued relying on forced confessions obtained under torture.

His health has significantly declined during his imprisonment, with reports indicating severe weight loss and inadequate medical attention.

He has has lost a considerable amount of weight and is in urgent need of medical care, according to a report by by Swedish newspaper Dagens Nyheter, citing Djalali's lawyer and family.

Additionally, Djalali has been experiencing dangerously low blood pressure, exacerbating concerns about his well-being, according to the report.

During Friday's meeting, Sweden said it asked Iran not to carry out Djalali's death sentence. “At the meeting, Sweden's clear protests against the death penalty and demands that it not be carried out were reiterated.”

In January, the European Parliament adopted a resolution demanding the immediate and unconditional release of all EU-Iranian dual nationals currently detained in Iranian prisons, including Djalali.