Iran–Sweden relations

Iran–Sweden relations are foreign relations between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Kingdom of Sweden. Among all Scandinavian countries, Sweden has the strongest and most extensive relationship with Iran. Formal diplomatic relations were established in 1929. Sweden played an important role in modernizing parts of Iran’s police force during the late Qajar era.

From the 8th to the 11th centuries, Swedish Vikings traveled down the Russian rivers to the Caspian Sea, reaching near Iran. They acted only as traders and mercenaries, exchanging furs, amber, and weapons for the silver. The strongest evidence of Persian-Swedish Vikings relationship comes from archaeological discoveries, where tens of thousands of Persian coins have been unearthed in Viking hoards in Sweden. In addition to coins, archaeologists have found Persian textiles, beads, and metalwork in Viking graves across Sweden.