Brussels/Stockholm  - Sweden, which currently holds the European Union presidency, condemned on Thursday Iran's execution of 24 convicts - but defended its decision to send a high-ranking diplomat to the swearing-in of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

"The presidency of the European Union condemns the execution of 24 persons in the city of Karaj in Iran on 30 July 2009. The presidency is concerned about the continued large-scale use of the death penalty in Iran," the Swedish government said in a statement.

"The presidency continues to call on the Iranian authorities to abolish the death penalty completely and, in the mean time, to establish a moratorium on executions," the statement said.

The EU has long opposed the death penalty, arguing that it is unethical and can lead to the death of innocent people. The bloc regularly condemns executions in third countries, including traditional allies such as the United States and Japan.

Thursday's statement was published as Sweden's foreign minister, Carl Bildt, defended his country's controversial decision to send Magnus Wernstedt, a relatively high-ranking diplomat, to Ahmadinejad's swearing-in, while other EU countries sent relatively low-ranking diplomats.

Suspicion lingers in the EU about the handling of the June elections in which Ahmadinejad won re-election. Additionally, Western nations have been critical of the Iranian regime's treatment of citizens who protested the vote outcome.

"We always have our ambassador on site in every possible ... country, regardless of the regime in question," Bildt told the SR broadcaster. "As an observer, they are better when they are present than when they are absent." (dpa)