Stockholm’s Largest Mosque Linked to Iranian Spy Network – Sweden Cracks Down
Sweden has launched a major crackdown on what officials are describing as an Iranian intelligence operation operating from Stockholm’s largest Shiite mosque, the Imam Ali Islamic Center (IAC).


The investigation, which has drawn significant attention, was revealed by Social Affairs Minister Jakob Forssmed, who confirmed that the mosque had been acting as a platform for Iranian intelligence activities targeting both Swedish national interests and the Iranian diaspora within Sweden.
"This is extremely serious," Forssmed remarked in a statement to the Swedish news outlet Expressen, adding that the government had taken immediate action by halting all state financial aid to the Imam Ali Islamic Center. While Forssmed indicated that additional measures were being explored, he refrained from providing further details on those actions.
The investigation escalated recently when Swedish authorities conducted a raid on the residence of Mohsen Hakimollahi, a 63-year-old Imam who had been sent to Sweden by Tehran in 2011 to run the center. Hakimollahi had been residing in Stockholm under permanent residency since 2017. Following the raid, he was arrested and given a deportation order on Thursday.
In response, the Imam Ali Islamic Center has vehemently denied the allegations, stating on its website that it maintains "strict oversight to ensure that our premises are not used as a platform for any criminal activity." The mosque has emphasized its goal of fostering positive relationships with Swedish institutions and facilitating the integration of Muslims into Swedish society.
The Swedish government’s actions have drawn protests from Iran, which summoned Sweden’s ambassador to express their concerns. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ismail Baghaei suggested that Sweden’s decisions might be influenced by external forces with a vested interest in souring relations between the two countries.
Sweden’s move follows a broader pattern of European nations taking action against Iranian-linked activities. One of the most notable examples occurred in August when Germany closed the Hamburg Islamic Center over connections to extremist activities linked to Iran. At this stage, Swedish authorities have not indicated whether the Imam Ali Islamic Center will face permanent closure in the wake of the investigation into Hakimollahi’s activities.