Iran FM demands Sweden release war crime suspect Hamid Noury

Iran demanded Sweden release an Iranian national on trial for crimes against humanity on Wednesday, the same day Tehran set the execution date for a Swedish-Iranian national charged with espionage.

In a phone call with his Swedish counterpart Ann Linde, Iranian foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian demanded the "immediate release" of former Iranian official Hamid Noury, Iranian state news outlet Press TV reported.

Nouri has been on trial in Sweden since August for human rights violations and war crimes, including the execution of a large number of political prisoners at an Iranian jail in the late 1980s. He could serve life in prison if found guilty.

On Wednesday, Iranian state media reported that Tehran would be executing Swedish-Iranian national Ahmadreza Djalali on 21 May for charges of spying for Israeli intelligence.

Swedish foreign minister Linde said she discussed the "disturbing reports" with Abdollahian in Wednesday's phone call. 

It was Linde who initiated the phone call between the two foreign ministers, the press office for Sweden's foreign ministry told The New Arab, "to talk about the media reports of the impending execution of Ahmadreza Djalali".

"Sweden is opposed to the death penalty in all its forms, and demands that Ahmadreza Djalali be released on humanitarian grounds," the press office said.

Diplomatic ties between Sweden and Iran have become increasingly strained in recent weeks because of Nouri's case.

Stockholm last week warned Swedish citizens against non-essential travel to Iran because of the "security situation" in the country.

On Sunday, Iran said it had summoned Sweden's ambassador over the trial.