Switzerland’s Role in Mediating Between Iran and US During Israeli Attack: A Closer Look

For more than forty years, Switzerland has represented US interests in Iran as a protective power. Thanks to these good offices, the two hostile states communicate with each other through Bern. This is also true in the current crisis.

Anna Kappeler / ch media

Iran fired drones and missiles at Israel on Saturday afternoon. Almost all the shells were destroyed by Israeli anti-aircraft defenses. The situation is worse than ever.

Now it is known: Swiss diplomacy was also involved – as a mediator. Bern is said to have sent messages from Tehran to Washington during the Iranian invasion. The US, the arch enemy of the mullahs’ regime and an ally of Israel, is said to have been informed that the attack has been completed. And that was while the rockets were still flying. This is what “The Times of Israel” and the US are reporting Zeitung “The Hill” consistent A “senior US official” is cited as the source.

This has not been confirmed or denied by request from EDA’s Foreign Affairs Division. The FDFA does not wish to comment on the activities within the framework of the defense power mandate, a spokesperson said.

What are “good offices”?

It is quite possible that the Swiss sent messages as part of their good offices, also known as the defense power mandate. Since the US and Iran are no longer on speaking terms, Switzerland represents US interests in Iran. Today, Switzerland has six mandates as a defense power, and perhaps the most important is representing US interests in Iran.

According to the EDA, this is about very few relations between states that no longer maintain relations with each other. Switzerland’s role in this can be thought of as a kind of post.

Nadine Olivieri Lozano, Ambassador of Switzerland to Iran.Image: EDA

The defense power mandate dates back to the 1980 hostile crisis and the storming of the US embassy in Tehran. As a result, the US broke off relations with Iran.

How does this work exactly?

Two recent examples show the importance of Swiss diplomacy in reducing hostile states.

Example 1 – Kassim Soleimani assassinated

On January 3, 2020, Iran’s top general Kassim Soleimani was assassinated by the United States in Baghdad. Iran’s spiritual leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei then promises revenge.

On the same day, a fax from the FDFA in Bern arrived at the Swiss embassy in Tehran. He says “Do not increase,” as Watson writes referring to the “Wall Street Journal.” Sender: US government in Washington. The Swiss ambassador to Iran rushes in and delivers the news immediately to the Iranian foreign minister.

The next day, Iran’s foreign minister contacted the Swiss ambassador with a cautionary message for Washington. Bern also distributes this immediately. This is important because at the same time both sides are getting louder and louder in public. Days later, Iranian missiles cause damage to a US military base in Iraq – with no fatalities. Iran notified Washington through Bern that the retaliation was complete. The US rejects further acts of war. This is also the result of the message from Tehran sent by Switzerland, according to Washington.

Example 2 – Prisoner exchange

On December 7, 2019, there will be a prisoner exchange between the US and Iran at Zurich Airport. This came about thanks to the mandate of the Swiss defense power and organized by diplomats from Bern. The handover of the prisoners takes place on the tarmac while the US special envoy to Iran and the Iranian foreign minister await their citizens in separate rooms.

This shows that the diplomats of the FDFA and good offices are important in reducing tensions when two states do not talk to each other.