Finland Accuses Iran of Espionage

The Finnish Security and Intelligence Service (Supo) has accused Iran of conducting espionage operations in Finland.

This is the first time Iran has officially appeared on Supo’s list of suspected hostile intelligence actors.

Supo reported that Iran’s activities have become increasingly hostile, mirroring the broader deterioration in relations between Tehran and Western nations.

A Supo spokesperson noted that the threat posed by Iran has increased across Northern Europe, although the agency did not specify what kind of information Iran is allegedly seeking in Finland.

Until now, Supo had publicly named only Russia and China as countries involved in espionage against Finland.

Supo also stated that, in addition to the three countries, several other authoritarian regimes are suspected of espionage either inside Finland or targeting individuals residing in the country.

“The goal is to gather information on these individuals using various methods, including covert intelligence operations,” Supo stated.
Such activities, the agency added, are often aimed at “silencing critics of the regime abroad.”

Supo previously warned that Russian intelligence operatives increasingly pose as journalists or researchers to carry out espionage in Finland.

The agency noted that the number of Russian operatives in the country has declined significantly following the expulsion of diplomats and the tightening of visa policies.

However, according to Supo, Russia’s intelligence-gathering needs remain unchanged.

While such activities have traditionally been conducted under diplomatic cover, Russian intelligence services are now turning to alternative methods. Supo expects a growing use of false identities, particularly those of journalists and academics, in future operations.