by Dr. iur. Marianne Wüthrich
At least, after some hesitation, the Swiss Federal Council has banned future arms exports to the US and several (though not all) overflights by US military aircraft. However, when it comes to diplomacy and good offices, the Federal Council is once again failing across the board.
Summoning the wrong ambassador
“Switzerland is deeply concerned about the escalation in the Middle East following the military strikes on Iran. It calls for full compliance with international law and urges de-escalation.”1 On this basis, consistent with neutrality, the Federal Council could advocate for peace and offer its good offices.
Instead, Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis has taken a one-sided stance by summoning Mahmoud Barimani, the representative of the attacked Iran, to Bern, but not the ambassadors of the US and Israel. Barimani is to convey Switzerland’s protest against the war to his government. Virtually the whole world agrees that it was Israel and the US that have attacked Iran in violation of international law, and not vice versa. Therefore, Cassis’s zealous activism is very surprising.
Exactly what Federal Councillor Cassis criticised in the current case when speaking to the Iranian ambassador on behalf of his government remains unclear. The right of an attacked state to defend itself against an armed attack, in accordance with Article 51 of the UN Charter, should surely also be known to the head of the Swiss FDFA.
Sanctions violating neutrality
In February 2022, the whole world was forced to acknowledge that Switzerland had lost its credibility as a neutral state by its own doing. Since then, in contravention of Switzerland’s neutrality and sovereignty, the Federal Council has, almost without exception, adopted the EU’s unilateral sanctions against Russia which contravene international law. This violation of neutrality was one of the reasons for the launch of the Neutrality Initiative which will be put to a vote this autumn.
Regarding the war on Iran, the Federal Council is going one step further: it is imposing sanctions against the country that has been attacked in violation of international law! On 12 December 2025, when the war against Iran was in preparation, the Federal Council had already completely revised the corresponding ordinance. On the one hand it implements “UN resolutions that have come back into force” from 2006 to 2015; on the other hand, “Switzerland is partially adopting the reactivated EU sanctions that had been suspended following the JCPOA2 taking effect”. In other words, a mix of UN sanctions that have been in place for years – which Switzerland is unfortunately obliged to adopt – and unilateral EU sanctions that contravene international law, which it, as a neutral country, should not adopt. Look at the long list of export bans and financial sanctions which now are even further plunging the beleaguered Iranian people into misery!3
Increased humanitarian aid for the Middle East – the Swiss approach
At least the Federal Council also remembers Switzerland’s humanitarian obligations. In its press release of 16 March 2026, the FDFA writes: “The war in the Middle East is having a serious impact on the populations of Lebanon, Syria and Iran. The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) is therefore providing a humanitarian aid package totalling 6.5 million Swiss francs, which focuses on Lebanon and includes a regional component for Syria. The SDC is also releasing emergency aid for Iran.” It continues: “The funds are being channelled to key partners for protection, emergency shelters, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH). These include the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), which works closely with the Lebanese Red Cross, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). In addition, the Swiss Humanitarian Aid Unit (SHA), together with the ICRC and the regional water authority, is supporting the drinking water supply in the Bekaa Valley (Lebanon). In response to an emergency appeal by the “International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)” for Iran, the Swiss Confederation is also releasing CHF 1 million in emergency aid.4•
1 Federal Council press release of 18 March 2026; https://www.eda.admin.ch/de/stellungnahme-situation-iran
2Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. Vienna Nuclear Agreement of 14 July 2015 between Iran and Germany, France, the United Kingdom, the USA, Russia and China
3 State Secretariat for Economic Affairs SECO. “Measures against the Islamic Republic of Iran”; press release of 12 December 2025
4 “The SDC is stepping up humanitarian support for the people of Lebanon, Syria and Iran”; https://www.eda.admin.ch/de/newnsb/V-OEiZFDCNXDa_WIWDpWZ
mw. “In view of the war in the Middle East and the rising security risk, the FDFA has decided to temporarily close the Swiss Embassy in Tehran.” (FDFA statement of 11 March 2026).
In a ‘Letter from Geneva’, former Federal Councillor Micheline Calmy-Rey expresses in strong terms her incomprehension at this hasty move and calls on the FDFA, which she herself once led, to uphold Switzerland’s obligations as a neutral state and as a protecting power.
Neutrality as pre-condition for protecting power mandates
The former Swiss Foreign Minister is well aware of the vital importance of neutrality in carrying out a protective mandate: “The role of representing foreign interests requires skill and tact, and is reflected in a constant effort to be reliable and impartial, without identifying in any way with the positions and policies of one state or another.”
If any embassy were to remain open, it would be Switzerland’s
Calmy-Rey emphasises the special role of the Swiss embassy in Iran, which has represented American interests in Iran for many years. This mandate includes consular duties such as processing passport applications and similar matters, or protecting US citizens in Iranian prisons. At the diplomatic level, Swiss diplomats act “as a liaison between the two foreign ministries”, meaning they keep open the communication channel between Tehran and Washington – which is vital, particularly in times of war – and work to ensure the continuation of dialogue between the two parties. For this reason, the former Swiss Foreign Minister is clear: “If, despite the risks, an embassy had to remain open, even with just a single diplomat, it would be Switzerland’s, as our mandate to protect American interests and citizens in Iran obliges us to do so.”
Calmy-Rey adds that we Swiss should really know that we need to sit down at the table with all political forces, without differentiating between good and bad.
We could certainly do with a character like Micheline Calmy-Rey in our Federal Council today – someone who puts Swiss neutrality and good offices first and does not allow herself to be influenced by every passing trend.
Source: Micheline Calmy-Rey. “Brief aus Genf. Warum schliesst die Schweiz ihre Botschaft in Teheran?” (Letter from Geneva. Why is Switzerland closing its embassy in Tehran?), Weltwoche of 1 April 2026
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