Iran confirms it’s holding Swedish diplomat, says he ‘committed crimes’

Iran’s judiciary confirms that it was holding a Swedish national, saying he had “committed crimes” in the Islamic Republic.

“This Swedish citizen has committed crimes in the territory of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” judiciary spokesman Massoud Satayshi says.

Last week, the European Union said Swedish diplomat Johan Floderus, a 33-year-old who works for the bloc, had been detained in Iran for more than 500 days.

Satayshi said the Swede was sent “to prison with a legal order.”

He said an investigation into the case “is being finalized” and will be sent to the relevant court “in the coming days.”

The EU’s top diplomat Josep Borrell said last week that the bloc had been pushing “relentlessly” for the Swede’s release.

The Swedish government has also called on Iran to free Floderus.