Sweden defended its female state officials for wearing hijab, during their trip to Iran, in the wake of an angry reaction from women's movements. Ann Lindh, Swedish Minister of Trade, led a staff of officials in Tehran last week, angering a group of activists and politicians, in the field of women's rights for wear headscarf during the visit.
But Ms Linde told Swedish media that she was unwilling to break Iranian law - despite Sweden claiming to have the world's first 'feminist government'.
Sweden's Liberal party chief Jan Bjorklund said Iran oppressed women adding that the move was 'ruinous to what is called a feminist foreign policy'.
Linde later said that the only other option would have been to send an all-male delegation.
However, Ms Linde said she did not intend to wear a veil during an upcoming visit to Saudi Arabia, the BBC reports.
In December German Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen was widely praised by her choice to not wear a veil during a trip to Saudi Arabia after she said it was her 'right as a woman'.
Von der Leyen followed the example set by US First Lady Michelle Obama, who was condemned in Saudi Arabia when she went bare-headed on a visit with her husband last year.