Riot after Iranian minister's speech in Stockholm

It was a smiling Zarif who arrived at the Peace Research Institute Sipri in Stockholm, where he was met by Chairman Jan Eliasson. The two have known each other for decades, something Eliasson himself pointed out when introducing the guest. Then Eliasson mediated in the Iraq-Iraq war, where Zarif was part of the Iranian delegation.

- He was 28 years old then. I'm not going to say how old he is today but the year was 1988, Eliasson said.

Less easy was the tone outside Sipri's office. Protesters had gathered there and shouted slogans at the Iranian government, where Zarif was identified as a killer and hypocrite. Several of the protesters testified about how they themselves were imprisoned in Iran, or about relatives executed.

During his speech, Zarif dismissed the protesters, who he said did not represent the Iranian people.

Zarif is in Sweden for a two day visit. He comes directly from Helsinki and the next on the itinerary is Norway. The purpose is to speak for Iran in the matter of the International Agreement on Iran's Nuclear Agreement (JCPOA) concluded in 2015.

The deal has almost failed since the US last year left the deal. As a result, the economic sanctions against Iran have tightened, and the Iranian economy is suffering severely.

Iran's hopes are therefore for Europe, but European players are pushing to clash with the US. Zarif points out that the EU does not live up to its commitments when renouncing trade with Iran.

- Sweden does very well in terms of what you say, but you also have to implement, he tells SVT.

On Tuesday, Zarif met Sweden's Foreign Minister Margot Wallström (S). They discussed, among other things, the war in Yemen and human rights in Iran, something Zarif was rebranded by the audience at Sipri.

The two ministers must also have discussed the fate of the doomed Swedish-Iranian doctor Ahmadreza Djalali. Zarif points out that Djalali was convicted of conspiring with Israel in court, but the two should have discussed the possibility of imposing the death penalty at the same time.

"We are doing our best to see on humanitarian grounds whether the death penalty against Mr Djalali can be postponed, but he has been charged with several serious crimes," Zarif said.

When Zarif left Sipri after the lecture, riot broke out and several of the protesters were arrested. At least two should have been injured during the intervention.

Among the protesters were several supporters of the Iranian opposition group People's Mujahedin (MEK). In the 1980s, MEK fought on Iraq's side - against Iran - in the war between the two countries, something Zarif also mentioned in his speech. The protesters say they want to challenge the government in Iranian elections.

- You should ask Zarif if they can make a choice where they measure how many votes they have, against how many votes we have, says demonstrator Adel Ramtini to SVT.