Sweden Accuses Iran of Cyberattack After Quran Burning

Swedish authorities have accused Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard of hacking a Swedish SMS service to send approximately 15,000 text messages in the summer of 2023, calling for revenge against individuals who burned the Quran. The operation aimed to create division within Swedish society and portray the country as Islamophobic. The text messages, attributed to a group called the Anzu team, were part of a broader influence campaign orchestrated by Iran. Swedish officials stated that the investigation had been closed due to the unlikelihood of extraditing the suspects. These incidents strained Sweden's international relations and complicated its NATO accession process, especially with Turkey. Iranian authorities have not commented on the accusations.