Switzerland’s Federal Department of Foreign Affairs closed the country’s embassy in Tehran, Iran, on Tuesday. The office cited security as the reason for the closure, and evacuated Ambassador Olivier Bangerter and the five remaining staff by road.
In addition to its normal mandate, the Swiss embassy has been handling matters concerning US citizens in Iran. This is because the US has not had an embassy in Iran since Iranian protestors took US citizens hostage in November 1979, months after the Islamic revolution.
The incident, instigated by the US act of granting refuge to the ousted Shah, saw the severed ties remain so ever since. The Islamic Revolution of 1979 installed Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini as Supreme Leader after ending the rule of the Pahlavi dynasty, headed by Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.
Switzerland terms the closure of its Tehran embassy temporary, and assures the US and Iran that it remains open to handling any communication between them.
Defense Minister Criticizes the War
Still worth noting is that before the Swiss embassy’s closure, Switzerland’s Minister of Defense, Martin Pfister, did not just call for a cessation of the war. He also stated that the US-Israel war on Iran is a violation of international law, and Iran is doing no better. He noted that the air bombardments are costing civilian lives.
He pointed out that Europe may be drawn into the mess even if the countries refrain from intervening militarily. According to Pfister, the war could instigate terrorist attacks in countries not directly involved in the war, including Switzerland. He also pointed out the potential overflow of war refugees into European countries.