Sweden – Aftonbladet, Mar. 05, 2026
The Swedish-Iranian researcher Ahmadreza Djalali remains imprisoned in the notorious Evin Prison in Tehran.
“We are very concerned and will do everything we can to ensure that he can return home to his family,” says Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard (M).
Ahmadreza Djalali recently had contact with his wife, Vida Mehrannia, from inside the infamous prison. They spoke for about two minutes, and the call was interrupted several times.
“I have taken note of the information that has emerged in the media, namely that his wife has managed to get in contact with him. I am very grateful that she was able to do so,” Malmer Stenergard says.
The Ministry for Foreign Affairs is following his situation as closely as possible, she continues, but it is difficult to obtain verified information, partly because the internet is shut down in Iran.
“He is in a country at war where it is difficult for us to obtain accurate information. In addition, he is being held in Evin Prison, where many worrying reports have emerged about how the situation has developed. Moreover, he has a serious health condition, so we are very concerned and will do everything we can to ensure that he can return home to his family.”
Djalali was sentenced to death in 2017 for alleged espionage against Iran but is considered by the United Nations to be arbitrarily detained.
