Swiss condolences after Iranian President dies in helicopter crash
Mourners in Iran hold images of late President Raisi.
KEYSTONE
Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis has expressed his condolences after the death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash at the weekend.
This content was published on
2 minutes
SWI swissinfo.ch/mga
العربية
ar
سويسرا تقدم التعازي في وفاة الرئيس الإيراني إثر حادث تحطم مروحية
Do you want to read our weekly top stories? Subscribe here.
Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian was also among the helicopter passengers who died in the crash on Monday. Iran has declared five days of mourning after the accident.
“I extend my condolences to the families of all the victims and to the Iranian citizens affected,” Cassis stated in an X social media post on Monday.
More
More
Iran-Israel tensions: Switzerland’s role as an intermediary is shrinking
This content was published on
Despite its protecting power mandate for the United States in Iran, Switzerland lacks influence to de-escalate tensions in the region.
Switzerland is among a number of states, including the European Union, to have sent messages of condolence to Iran.
European Council President Charles Moore wrote on his X account that: “Our thoughts go to the families”.
The United States expressed regret for the loss of life but also accused Raisi of serious human rights violations and of supporting terrorist groups during his tenure as president.
Switzerland has had a protecting power mandate to represent the United States in Iran since normal diplomatic channels were cut off between the two countries in 1980.
The Swiss embassy in Tehran handles US consular affairs in Iran while Switzerland also uses its good offices role to mediate during heightened tensions.
However, Switzerland has also in the past rebuked Iran for its human rights record and for escalating tensions in the Middle East.
While Switzerland has issued sanctions against Iran in recent years, it does not go as far as some US and EU measures.
This news story has been written and carefully fact-checked by an external editorial team. At SWI swissinfo.ch we select the most relevant news for an international audience and use automatic translation tools such as DeepL to translate it into English. Providing you with automatically translated news gives us the time to write more in-depth articles. If you want to know more about how we work, have a look here, and if you have feedback on this news story please write to english@swissinfo.ch.
External Content
Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Almost finished… We need to confirm your email address. To complete the subscription process, please click the link in the email we just sent you.
This content was published on
The only alternative to the UN Palestinian agency’s work in Gaza is to allow Israel to run services there, Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA Commissioner-General, told reporters in Geneva on Monday.
Study reveals food culture differences between Switzerland and neighbours
This content was published on
Three-quarters of Swiss people consider eating to be a pleasurable, social activity, a new survey reveals. Healthy eating, however, plays a much less important role, it found.
Precious archaeological vases and coins returned to Italian museum
This content was published on
The Italian authorities have recovered over 2,500 precious ancient coins, vases and small sculptures that had been illegally dug up and sold in Switzerland, Eurojust announced on Monday.
PrimeEnergy Cleantech declared bankrupt by Swiss authorities
This content was published on
PrimeEnergy Cleantech has been officially declared bankrupt, the Swiss Official Gazette of Commerce (SOGC) reported on Monday.
This content was published on
The consumption of antibiotics has risen in Switzerland since the Covid-19 pandemic. However, compared to other European countries the Alpine country has one of the lowest levels of antibiotic usage.
Swiss financial watchdog foresees greater uncertainty due to geopolitics
This content was published on
The Swiss financial sector will face greater uncertainty due to the numerous geopolitical conflicts around the world, warns the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA).
Swiss museums to mark centenary of death of painter Félix Vallotton
This content was published on
Swiss museums will celebrate the centenary of the death of the artist Félix Vallotton (1865-1925) next year. A major retrospective is planned in Lausanne, his birthplace, in autumn.
Russian mission installs more ‘spy’ antennas in Geneva, Swiss TV report claims
This content was published on
Russian spies are strengthening their presence in Geneva, according to a report by Swiss public television, RTS. Russian officials have placed new satellite dishes on their diplomatic buildings without authorisation.
This content was published on
Switzerland should join NATO, as in the future it cannot rely on its long-standing tradition of neutrality for its defence, John Bolton, Donald Trump's former national security adviser, declared in an interview on Sunday.
This content was published on
A demonstration was held in Geneva on Sunday calling for an immediate end to the war in Ukraine. Around 50 Russians took part in the gathering outside the UN building.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.