As in any good American film from the 1980s and 1990s, the savior of humanity is sometimes unexpected. This time, no Bruce Willis or Will Smith, but… Switzerland. On the “normal guy boy next door” side, that’s where it’s at. And yet. While the United States and Iran do not have diplomatic relations, the Swiss Confederation plays a particularly valuable role as a “factor” in these times of extreme tension between the Islamic Republic and Israel.
Thus, there was “a series of direct communications relayed by Switzerland” between Washington and Tehran, according to an American official, before the unprecedented attack of several hundred drones and missiles from Iran against Israel.
Switzerland very mysterious on the subject
The head of the Iranian armed forces, General Mohammad Bagheri, was more specific about the content which warns the United States “that if it cooperates with Israel in its possible next actions, its bases will not be safe.” A message sent via the Swiss embassy.
In Bern, the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) played it mysterious, assuming that it “does not comment on activities linked to its mandates as a protecting power”. Switzerland has represented American interests in Iran since the hostage-taking at the United States embassy in Tehran in 1980, points out the FDFA on its website.
A role of “postman” assumed
As a protecting power, it allows the two countries to maintain a minimum of diplomatic and consular relations. On the diplomatic level, “Switzerland can itself offer its ‘postman’ services or assume this function at the request of the countries concerned, provided that all parties agree to it”, specifies the FDFA.
In accordance with its tradition of good offices, Switzerland also plays the role of mediator. For example, it has helped on several occasions in the context of prisoner exchanges between Iran and the United States. Iran’s interests in the United States are represented by Pakistan.
A history of diplomacy during the world wars
In addition to communication between the two states, the foreign interests section of the Swiss embassy in Tehran handles all consular matters of the United States in Iran (passport applications, changes of civil status or even consular protection of American nationals).
Switzerland for the first time assumed the role of protecting power by representing in France the interests of the Kingdom of Bavaria and the Grand Duchy of Baden during the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-1871, recalls the ministry. It also exercised mandates as a protecting power during the First World War and “it emerged, during the Second World War, as the protecting power par excellence due to its neutrality”, underlines the DFAE.