عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
World

Sweden Says It Disrupted a Russian Intelligence Operation

A view shows the state flag of Russia before a meeting of Russian President Vladimir Putin with French President Emmanuel Macron in St. Petersburg, Russia May 24, 2018. (Reuters)
A view shows the state flag of Russia before a meeting of Russian President Vladimir Putin with French President Emmanuel Macron in St. Petersburg, Russia May 24, 2018. (Reuters)
TT
TT

Sweden Says It Disrupted a Russian Intelligence Operation

A view shows the state flag of Russia before a meeting of Russian President Vladimir Putin with French President Emmanuel Macron in St. Petersburg, Russia May 24, 2018. (Reuters)
A view shows the state flag of Russia before a meeting of Russian President Vladimir Putin with French President Emmanuel Macron in St. Petersburg, Russia May 24, 2018. (Reuters)

The Swedish Security Service (Sapo) said Monday it had thwarted a Russian intelligence operation aimed at discrediting Sweden which involved an "agent" working in a foreign diplomatic mission in the country.

The counter-espionage agency said in a statement it had "gathered information on, and taken measures against, a Russian intelligence operation aiming at influencing Swedish decision-making and discrediting Sweden, NATO and the EU".

According to Sapo, the "intelligence operation has been planned and directed by the Russian foreign intelligence service SVR for some time".

Christoffer Wedelin, Sapo's deputy head of operations, told AFP that the operation had been carried out by Russian intelligence agents operating under "diplomatic immunity", who in turn had recruited another "agent" working at a different country's diplomatic mission.

Sapo did not identify the diplomatic mission where the agent allegedly involved worked.

"In meetings with the agent, the Russian intelligence officers... tasked the agent with obtaining information in various ways," Wedelin said.

According to Wedelin, "the objectives have been to create division" within Sweden, as well as among EU and NATO allies.

Wedelin said the information concerned Swedish decision-making, but declined to give a more specific account of what information had been gathered or how long the operation had been going on.

"Our assessment is that we have disrupted and prevented the activity," Wedelin said, adding that both the Russian intelligence agents and the other agent were no longer in Sweden.

Swedish Justice Minister Gunnar Strommer said that the government took the reports "seriously".

"This is part of a pattern where Russia, and other state actors, act offensively to further their interests in Sweden," Strommer told reporters.

In 2024, Sweden ended two centuries of military non-alignment and joined NATO, spurred into the alliance by Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

Sapo has repeatedly pointed to Russia, along with China and Iran, as the main intelligence threats to the country.

Most Viewed

 
 
World

CENTCOM Tests Advanced Drone Capabilities in the Middle East

The aircraft carrier USS George Washington sails in Middle Eastern regional waters. (CENTCOM) 
The aircraft carrier USS George Washington sails in Middle Eastern regional waters. (CENTCOM) 
TT
TT

CENTCOM Tests Advanced Drone Capabilities in the Middle East

The aircraft carrier USS George Washington sails in Middle Eastern regional waters. (CENTCOM) 
The aircraft carrier USS George Washington sails in Middle Eastern regional waters. (CENTCOM) 

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said on Wednesday that Task Force 99, part of US Air Forces Central, introduced new drone and communication capabilities to warfighters in the Middle East.

“As a forward-deployed laboratory, the task force tests innovative concepts for enhancing combat effectiveness in the field,” the Command wrote in a post on X.

Late on Tuesday, CENTCOM had dismissed claims by Ali Azmayi, commander of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy, that Iran controls the Strait of Hormuz.

“[The] IRGC’s navy commander has no navy. American forces and regional partners clearly control the Strait of Hormuz,” the Command said, adding that US forces helped shipping partners move 19 million barrels of crude oil through the waterway.

Development of ‘Ballistic’

In Tehran, Iran’s defense minister nominee, Mehrdad Akhlaghi Ketabchi, outlined his plan for the ministry, prioritizing the upgrade of missile systems, expanding air defense production, and improving warhead effectiveness to meet current and future needs.

During a parliamentary session reviewing his plans for becoming defense minister, Akhlaghi Ketabchi said his priorities include “significantly and unexpectedly increasing the salaries of armed forces personnel.”

He also said: “We will work to accelerate the acquisition of technology for manufacturing heavy, multirole fighter jets, a project the ministry launched previously.”

Referring to ground combat, the nominee for the Defense post said that if he secures the confidence of deputies, his plan includes “developing the technology for designing and manufacturing artillery systems, missiles, and guided and smart mortar shells; modernizing production lines for advanced small arms; and developing and upgrading various anti-armor systems.”

Akhlaghi Ketabchi has been heavily involved in Iran's missiles programs and has previously served as head of the Aerospace Industries Organization, among other positions.

In 2007, he was designated by the UN Security Council in connection with his role as the head of the Shahid Bagheri Industrial Group (SBIG)—an entity subordinate to Iran's Aerospace Industries Organization (AIO), involved in the development and production of Iran's solid-propellant ballistic missiles.

His nomination depicts the pivotal role played by the Aerospace Industries Organization within Iran’s Defense Ministry.

 

 

World

US Military Weighs Use of ‘Mother of All Bombs’ in Potential Future Strikes on Iran

Iranians drive past an anti-US billboard in Vanak Square, Tehran, on October 14, 2026 (EPA).
Iranians drive past an anti-US billboard in Vanak Square, Tehran, on October 14, 2026 (EPA).
TT
TT

US Military Weighs Use of ‘Mother of All Bombs’ in Potential Future Strikes on Iran

Iranians drive past an anti-US billboard in Vanak Square, Tehran, on October 14, 2026 (EPA).
Iranians drive past an anti-US billboard in Vanak Square, Tehran, on October 14, 2026 (EPA).

The US military has developed strike plans that could include using the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast Bomb, also known as the "mother of ‌all bombs", ‌against Iranian energy ‌infrastructure ⁠and nuclear sites ⁠if President Donald Trump orders renewed combat operations, CNN reported on Thursday citing ⁠US officials familiar ‌with ‌the matter.

The potential ‌deployment of the ‌largest non-nuclear bomb in the US arsenal would mark a significant ‌escalation in the conflict, although officials ⁠familiar ⁠with military planning discussions told CNN questions remain over its effectiveness in achieving Washington's strategic objectives.

Reuters could not immediately verify the report.

World

Russia’s Lavrov, China’s Wang Discuss Cooperation, Ukraine, Iran at Asia Security Meeting

In this handout photograph taken and released by the Russian Foreign Ministry on October 14, 2026, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi hold a meeting on the sidelines of the Seventh Summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) in Baku. (Handout /Russian Foreign Ministry / AFP)
In this handout photograph taken and released by the Russian Foreign Ministry on October 14, 2026, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi hold a meeting on the sidelines of the Seventh Summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) in Baku. (Handout /Russian Foreign Ministry / AFP)
TT
TT

Russia’s Lavrov, China’s Wang Discuss Cooperation, Ukraine, Iran at Asia Security Meeting

In this handout photograph taken and released by the Russian Foreign Ministry on October 14, 2026, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi hold a meeting on the sidelines of the Seventh Summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) in Baku. (Handout /Russian Foreign Ministry / AFP)
In this handout photograph taken and released by the Russian Foreign Ministry on October 14, 2026, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi hold a meeting on the sidelines of the Seventh Summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) in Baku. (Handout /Russian Foreign Ministry / AFP)

The Russian ‌and Chinese foreign ministers discussed the state of bilateral cooperation as well as the crises in Ukraine and Iran during an Asia security meeting, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping reaffirmed ‌their strategic ‌alliance at a ‌regional summit ⁠last August and ⁠both praised prospects for closer cooperation.

The statement on Wednesday said Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi met in Azerbaijan at ⁠a meeting of the ‌Conference on ‌Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia.

It ‌said the two ministers "praised the ‌development dynamics of comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation" and "synchronized watches on bilateral political dialogue".

It said discussions ‌also focused on "relations with the United States and the situation ⁠around ⁠the Ukrainian and Iranian crises".

Both Russia and China have called for an end to the Iran conflict, saying it could expand and threaten stability throughout the region.

China has affirmed its "no limits" partnership with Russia throughout the 4-1/2-year-long war in Ukraine, while calling for diplomatic efforts to end the conflict.