In Stockholm, the foreign ministry said its embassy in Tehran was “working intensively” to secure the release of the two men, being held in the southern port of Bandar Abbas.
“Two Swedish nationals have been detained in Iran for a month accused of illegally photographing naval installations,” Iranian Justice Minister Jamal Karimi-Rad told AFP.
“Currently their case is being looked into by a court in Bandar Abbas. They are in good condition and they will have legal representation as stated in Iranian penal laws,” he added, declining to give further details.
The Swedish daily Aftonbladet reported that the men, aged between 30 and 40, were construction workers from western Sweden and were accused of taking photographs on the island of Qeshm off southern Iran.
Sweden’s charge d’affaires in Tehran, Soeren Lundvall, told Aftonbladet he had spoken to the men and that they were being treated well.
“They didn’t realize the severity of the photo ban,” Lundvall said, adding that such offences carry tough sentences in Iran.
He said the Iranian investigation would continue throughout the year, possibly longer, and that the men would remain in jail for the duration.
