Sweden’s security service, Sapo, has accused Iran of increasing its targeting of dissidents since the start of the Iran war, alleging that it has recruited organised crime networks to carry out acts of violence داخل the country. The warning comes as five teenagers are due to appear in court on Wednesday over the alleged attempted murder of an Iranian dissident researcher in southern Sweden.

Prosecutors say the group targeted Arvin Khoshnood, a researcher and commentator on Iranian affairs, at his home in the city of Malmö on September 2 last year. According to the charge sheet, one of the suspects, aged 16 at the time, rang the doorbell armed with a knife and asked Khoshnood’s wife if he was at home. Khoshnood, who was present, remained out of sight and contacted police immediately.

Authorities allege the teenager had been recruited through encrypted messaging apps and promised payment to carry out the attack. Prosecutors say three of the accused, along with a fourth individual believed to be the mastermind, provided instructions, supplied the weapon, and negotiated the terms before the attempt was made. Three of the teenagers face charges of attempted murder, while the others are accused of complicity.

“These are acts that fall under so-called crime as a service, where young perpetrators in Sweden take on assignments from individuals connected to organised crime,” prosecutor Per-Erik Rinsell said in a statement.

Khoshnood has suggested the plot may be linked to the Foxtrot network, one of Sweden’s most prominent criminal gangs. Its leader, Rawa Majid, has been reported to have connections to Iran, although such claims remain contested. The group has been associated with a series of shootings, bombings, and other violent incidents in recent years, often recruiting young people through online platforms.

The case has drawn attention to what Swedish authorities describe as a growing security threat. Sapo has identified Iran as one of the main risks to national security, accusing it of using criminal gangs to target Israeli interests and Iranian opposition figures within Sweden. Tehran has denied these allegations.

Khoshnood, who frequently appears in Swedish media as an expert on Iran, has openly expressed support for exiled opposition figure Reza Pahlavi, the son of Iran’s last shah. Investigators believe his public stance may have made him a target.

Several of the accused teenagers are also facing charges related to a separate attempted murder in Uddevalla, which occurred a week after the incident in Malmö. Authorities have not confirmed whether that case involved another Iranian dissident.

The trial is expected to shed light on the alleged links between foreign actors and domestic criminal networks, as Sweden grapples with rising concerns over organised crime and national security.

The United States and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire overnight, narrowly avoiding a major military escalation just hours before a deadline set by US President Donald Trump was due to expire. The agreement, announced on Trump’s Truth Social platform and confirmed by Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, includes provisions to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global shipping route.

“I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks. This will be a double-sided CEASEFIRE,” Trump said, adding that US forces had already met their military objectives. The deal came shortly after warnings from Trump that failure to comply could lead to widespread destruction.

Iran described the agreement as a “massive victory” and said negotiations toward a final peace settlement would begin on Friday in Pakistan. However, details of the arrangement remain unclear, including the exact timing of when the ceasefire will fully take effect. Reports indicated that attacks continued across Israel, Iran, and parts of the Gulf region early Wednesday, highlighting the fragile nature of the truce.

There were also conflicting accounts regarding the scope of the ceasefire. Israel confirmed it would suspend strikes against Iran for two weeks but said the arrangement does not extend to its conflict with Hezbollah in Lebanon. This contrasts with statements from Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who had been mediating talks and suggested the ceasefire would apply across all fronts, including Lebanon.

The agreement follows a diplomatic push led by Pakistan, which had urged Washington to extend its deadline and encouraged Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz as a goodwill gesture. Iran responded with a 10-point proposal that Trump later described as a workable basis for negotiations, though some elements remain disputed, including references to its nuclear programme.

Markets reacted quickly to the development. Oil prices fell sharply, dropping more than 17%, while stock markets in Asia rose in early trading, reflecting cautious optimism among investors. Analysts noted that uncertainty remains over the durability of the ceasefire and the terms of any longer-term settlement.

European leaders welcomed the pause in fighting but also expressed concern about the events leading up to it. The United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres called on all sides to respect international law, while German Chancellor Friedrich Merz thanked Pakistan for its mediation efforts and stressed the need for a lasting resolution.

Meanwhile, US Vice President JD Vance sparked controversy during a visit to Budapest, where he accused the European Union of interfering in Hungary’s election campaign and endorsed Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz party ahead of a closely watched vote. Opposition leader Péter Magyar criticised the move, warning against foreign involvement in Hungary’s domestic politics.

In a separate development, Russia issued warnings to Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, accusing them of assisting Ukraine in strikes on Russian oil infrastructure. The Baltic states rejected the claims as false.

The ceasefire between the US and Iran offers a brief window for diplomacy, though tensions across multiple regions continue to shape a volatile global landscape.