Switzerland said it was temporarily closing its embassy in Tehran due to the Middle East war but maintaining an open line of communication between the United States and Iran.
The foreign ministry in Bern said that in view of the war in the Middle East and the increasing security risk, it had
decided to temporarily close the Swiss embassy in Tehran.
Ambassador Olivier Bangerter and the remaining five other Swiss staff members left Iran by land earlier on March 11th and will return to Tehran once the situation allows. The ministry stated
As part of its good offices, Switzerland will continue to maintain an open line of communication between the United States and Iran, in consultation with the two countries.
Both the United States and Iran were informed of the temporary closure of the embassy and the departure of its Swiss staff. With the building out of action, Swiss diplomats will continue to operate
The protecting power mandate, under which Switzerland represents U.S. interests in Iran, can be exercised independently of geographical location.
In its role as the so-called protecting power, Switzerland has for decades allowed the two feuding nations to maintain a minimum of diplomatic and consular relations. Besides the current Middle East crisis, recently the Swiss Confederation claims to have played a key role in the negotiations between Russia and Ukraine,
