In a move that has sparked international criticism, Iran and Sweden conducted a prisoner swap on Saturday. The exchange involved the release of a European Union diplomat and another individual by Tehran, in exchange for an Iranian national convicted of war crimes in Stockholm.

The prisoner exchange was likely triggered by the arrest of Hamid Nouri by Sweden in 2019, while he was traveling as a tourist. This incident has been part of Iran's ongoing strategy since the Islamic Revolution in 1979, utilizing individuals with overseas ties as bargaining chips in negotiations with the West.

According to Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, diplomat Johan Floderus and another Swedish citizen, Saeed Azizi, had been subjected to a "hell on earth" during their detention in Iran. Kristersson accused Iran of using the Swedes as pawns in a cynical negotiation game to secure the release of Hamid Nouri.

The release was mediated by Oman, a country that has long served as an intermediary between Iran and the West. Notably, the swap coincided with the celebration of Eid al-Adha in the Muslim world, a time when prisoners are often freed.

The 1988 mass executions, which ultimately led to the war crimes conviction of Hamid Nouri, occurred at the end of Iran's war with Iraq. Following a cease-fire brokered by the United Nations, the Iranian opposition group Mujahedeen-e-Khalq, armed by Saddam Hussein, initiated a surprise attack on the Iranian border. The attack paved the way for the "death commissions" that carried out sham retrials of political prisoners, militants, and others. It is estimated that up to 5,000 people were executed during this period.

While Iran has never fully acknowledged the mass executions, international rights groups argue that they were carried out on the orders of Iran's former Supreme Leader, Ruhollah Khomeini. Late Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, who died in a helicopter crash in May, was also involved in these atrocities.

Johan Floderus, who was arrested in April 2022 at Tehran airport upon his return from vacation, had been held for several months before his detention became public knowledge. Saeed Azizi's case received less attention, but it was reported in February that the dual Iranian-Swedish citizen had been sentenced to five years in prison on charges of "assembly and collusion against national security." Azizi is also battling cancer.

Although the prisoner swap occurred, it did not lead to the release of Ahmadreza Djalali, a Swedish-Iranian expert on disaster medicine. Djalali has been arbitrarily detained by Tehran since his arrest in 2016 and is now facing the possibility of execution following a controversial trial.

The disregarding of Ahmadreza Djalali's case in the prisoner exchange has raised concerns, as his family was not informed or given any warning regarding the ongoing deal. His continued detention has drawn significant attention, with advocacy groups calling for his immediate release.

Despite Iran's claims that it does not hold prisoners for negotiation purposes, multiple swaps with the United States and other nations over the years have contradicted this statement. The recent prisoner exchange between Iran and Sweden has once again highlighted the contentious issue of using individuals as bargaining chips.

The international community now calls upon Iran to address the remaining cases of arbitrary detentions and to ensure fair trials for all prisoners. The fate of Ahmadreza Djalali continues to be a subject of concern and urgency, with human rights organizations demanding his release.