Swiss perspectives in 10 languages

Swiss foreign minister concerned about war risk in the Middle East

oil
The attack also targeted the Aramco oil processing facility which in turn disrupted global energy supply. Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved

The recent drone attacks on Saudi oil installations have intensified Switzerland’s role as intermediary between the US and Iran.

Switzerland, which represents the United States in Iran and vice versa, has initiated a mediation between Washington and Tehran, Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis said in an interview published on Sunday in the NZZ am Sonntag paper.

“I can’t go into details, but the Secretary of State Baeriswyl and myself are active on a technical, political and diplomatic level. We offer our good offices,” he said.

According to Cassis, “it only takes a little for something dangerous to happen”. The 58-year-old member of Switzerland’s governing Federal Council claims to have intervened directly as an intermediary between Mike Pompeo on the American side and Mohammad Javad Zarifon the Iranian side, including “once on a Saturday at home by telephone”. He did not want to get involved in the “speculation on the paternity of attacks”.

The drone and missile strikes on September 14 against Saudi oil installations and a processing plant, were claimed by the Yemeni Houthis rebels. But the United States and Saudi Arabia accuse Tehran of being the cause, which the Islamic Republic denies.

More

More

Switzerland confirms protecting power mandate

This content was published on The Swiss ministry of foreign affairs announced Sunday that Switzerland will represent the interests of Saudi Arabia in Iran, and those of Iran in Saudi Arabia, following the rupture of diplomatic relations between the countries.

Read more: Switzerland confirms protecting power mandate


Popular Stories

Most Discussed

News

Ski tourer dies in Sion hospital after avalanche accident

More

Young skier dies in avalanche in Swiss Alps

This content was published on A 27-year-old ski tourer has died in the hospital in Sion, in southwestern Switzerland, after being caught in an avalanche on Saturday.

Read more: Young skier dies in avalanche in Swiss Alps
The number of job offers decreases in 2024

More

Swiss job market faces drop in vacancies

This content was published on Job vacancies in Switzerland fell by 10% in 2024, marking the first negative annual balance since the Covid-19 pandemic, says Adecco.

Read more: Swiss job market faces drop in vacancies

In compliance with the JTI standards

More: SWI swissinfo.ch certified by the Journalism Trust Initiative

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.

SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR

SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR