Finland’s security service names Iran as espionage threat for first time

Iran is conducting increasingly hostile intelligence operations targeting Finland, the Finnish Security and Intelligence Service (Supo) told public broadcaster Yle in comments published Friday.

For the first time, Supo officially named Iran as one of the states actively spying on Finland, alongside Russia and China. The agency did not specify what kind of information Iran seeks but cited a broader rise in espionage threats.

Supo noted that Iran's tactics could include recruiting organized crime groups to carry out operations in Finland—an approach it described as part of Tehran’s use of proxy actors to obscure its involvement. The agency did not provide details on what kinds of acts might be involved but said similar Iranian-linked plots have been uncovered elsewhere in Europe.

Iranian surveillance targets exiles abroad

The agency also warned of surveillance targeting members of exiled opposition groups and other individuals viewed by Tehran as threats, often using personal data collection and pressure on family members abroad.

Supo said Iran’s actions reflect deteriorating relations with Western countries and highlighted that the threat is growing in other Nordic countries as well.

Sweden previously flagged similar threats from Tehran

The warning from Supo comes amid similar concerns raised by Sweden earlier this year. In its March annual threat assessment, the Swedish Security Police (SAPO) said Iran had escalated its intelligence activities and was increasingly using criminal networks within Sweden to suppress opposition and target perceived threats — including Israeli-linked groups. SAPO also reported efforts by Tehran to acquire sensitive dual-use technologies to bypass international sanctions and support weapons programs.

At the time, SAPO accused Iran of using a Shiite mosque in Stockholm for surveillance operations and warned that the security situation could deteriorate in unpredictable ways. That assessment followed a major diplomatic crisis last year, which ended in a prisoner swap between Stockholm and Tehran.