Iran has categorically denied Swedish accusations that it was responsible for a 2023 hacking attack aimed at inciting revenge against protesters who burned the Quran. The Iranian embassy in Stockholm dismissed the accusations as “baseless” and rejected them outright, stating that such claims harm relations between the two countries.
Earlier in the day, Swedish authorities had accused Iran of hacking into a text messaging service and sending thousands of messages urging Swedes to retaliate against those who burned the Quran. These incidents, which occurred several times in 2023, sparked outrage across the Muslim world and fueled fears of jihadist attacks.
The Swedish Security Service asserted that a cyber group operating on behalf of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard was behind the influence campaign. They stated that the attack aimed to portray Sweden as Islamophobic and sow divisions within society. Sweden even raised its terrorism alert level in response to the Quran burnings.
“That a state actor, in this case Iran, according to the security police’s assessment, is behind an act that aims to destabilise Sweden or increase polarisation in our country is of course very serious,” said Justice Minister Gunnar Strommer.
The Swedish Prosecution Authority, in a separate statement, confirmed that their investigation pointed to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as the perpetrators of the data breach. While they identified the individual hackers involved, they announced that they would not pursue charges due to the challenges of extradition or achieving a conviction abroad.
In August, Swedish prosecutors announced that two individuals would face trial for setting fire to the Quran in a series of incidents that ignited anger in the Muslim world. These events have further strained relations between Sweden and Iran, highlighting the complex geopolitical landscape and the potential for cyberattacks to escalate tensions.
