Since June 2022, the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs advises against all travel to Iran due to the unstable security situation. In an email to SVT, the Foreign Ministry writes the following:
“The Foreign Ministry has noted with concern that some Swedes, despite the strong advice, still choose to travel to Iran. It is worrying.”
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Exactly how many Swedes defy the advice is unclear, but it is estimated that around 1,500 Swedes reside in Iran, and several hundred may be on temporary visits, according to the Foreign Ministry.
Split view among Iranians on returning home
The Iranians’ perspective on the situation is divided. According to the Iranians that SVT has spoken to, many believe that it is okay to travel, while others avoid it on principle or for security reasons.
Rostam Mirlashari is a famous Baloch peace activist and singer from Iran. He says that Swedish-Iranians who have publicly expressed dissatisfaction with the regime – and still travel – make it possible for Iran to exploit other countries and conduct undemocratic actions.
– One way to get around the sanctions is to arrest people from European and American countries and then demand money, why should people risk going there? says Rostam Mirlashari, who himself is critical of the Iranian regime.
The researcher Baharan Kasemi has also previously expressed dissatisfaction with the Iranian regime. She has refrained from going to Iran since the advice – but she also understands why some travel after all.
Meeting the family will be an expensive affair
Baharan Kasemi believes that because relatives do not receive visas and the Foreign Ministry advises against traveling to Iran, families are forced to meet in another country and pay for both their own and their relatives’ travel, which she thinks is unsustainable for many.
– Such a trip will cost over SEK 50,000. Who put that money away? I will borrow money from my parents even though my husband and I have okay incomes, she says.