Switzerland to represent Iran interests in Saudi and vice versa

Switzerland’s embassies in Iran and Saudi have signed agreements to represent Iranian interests in Saudi Arabia and Saudi interests in Iran, the Swiss government said yesterday.

Iran and Saudi Arabia cut relations at the beginning of 2016. Both agreed on a Swiss offer “to undertake a protecting power mandate on both sides.”

During a meeting held yesterday, the Swiss government approved the arrangement to cover the consular services of both countries.

“Switzerland has a long history of representing foreign interests whereby it covers partial consular services and sometimes diplomatic tasks for countries that have broken off relations, if requested by the states in question,” the government said.

Switzerland started negotiations to undertake the task in February 2016, a month relations between the countries were severed.

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