Iran–Switzerland relations are foreign relations between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Swiss Confederation.
Switzerland has had a consulate in Tehran since 1919 which was raised to the status of embassy in 1936 and also represents the interests of the United States in Tehran. Switzerland has also represented Iran in Canada, Israel, and Saudi Arabia. Today, Iran has an embassy in Bern, while Switzerland has an embassy in Tehran.
History
1979 Revolution Switzerland becomes the "protecting power" of the United States in Iran after the Iranian Revolution of 1979.
Since May 1980, the Swiss embassy in Tehran has been consistently relaying diplomatic communications between Iran and the United States.
Iran–Iraq War Beginning in 1984, victims of the Iran–Iraq War received medical treatment in neutral Switzerland, while Swiss companies were doing multibillion-dollar business with Iraq at the same time. Cooperation on the national level to prevent natural catastrophes was initiated in 2006.
Murder of Kazem Rajavi Ali Fallahian, an Iranian politician and cleric who served as a member of the 3rd Assembly of Experts of the IRI and as the Minister of Intelligence of Islamic Republic of Iran in cabinet of President Hashemi Rafsanjani was charged by a Swiss court with masterminding the assassination of Kazem Rajavi, a brother of Mujahedin-e Khalq leader Massoud Rajavi, near Geneva in broad daylight by several agents on April 24, 1990.
Crypto AG and espionage case In 1992, Hans Buehler an employee of Swiss firm Crypto AG was detained in Iran on charges of espionage. He was later released by the Iranian authorities after the firm paid a 1 million dollar bond. Soon after Buehler's release Crypto AG dismissed him and charged him the $1m. Swiss media and the German magazine Der Spiegel took up his case in 1994, pursuing the question of whether Crypto's machines had in fact been rigged by Western intelligence (namely the NSA).Mehdi Atmani: La lune de miel secrète entre la Suisse et le renseignement international . Le Temps, August 21, 2015. Retrieved August 22, 2015. Archived online March 8, 1997.The NSA-Crypto AG Sting – OhmyNews International . English.ohmynews.com (December 29, 2007). Retrieved July 23, 2010. In 2020, a Swiss parliamentary investigation revealed that in fact "Swiss intelligence service were aware of and benefited from the Zug-based firm Crypto AG’s involvement in the US-led spying".
Friedrich Tinner, the Iranian nuclear program and the CIA Friedrich Tinner is a Swiss engineer, connected with the Khan network trafficking in the proliferation of nuclear materials and know-how to Pakistan, Iran, Libya, and North Korea. He has been connected in particular with gas centrifuges used for isotopic enrichment of uranium. émissions – temps présent – Les espions qui venaient d'Helvétie. tsr.ch (January 22, 2009). Retrieved July 23, 2010. In May 2008, the President of the Swiss Confederation, Pascal Couchepin announced that the Tinner files, believed to number around 30,000 documents, had been shredded. It is alleged that this was a cover-up, to hide the involvement of Urs Tinner with the CIA.
Swiss diplomat arrested on sexual charges In February 2009, the Iranian police arrested Marco Kämpf, the Swiss diplomat acting as the First Secretary of the US Interests, on sex charges after finding him with an Iranian woman in a car. The diplomat was recalled to Switzerland.
Human rights dialogue and the 2009 Swiss vote on minarets
The two countries have been engaged in a human rights dialogue since 2003 and in discussions on migration since 2005. Following a constitutional amendment banning the construction of new minarets in Switzerland in 2009, Iran described the Swiss vote as "Islamophobic" and a blow to religious freedom.
Security incidences at the Iranian embassy in Bern In November 2011, Swiss police investigated two minor attacks on the Iranian Embassy in Bern.
On October 1, 2022, Swiss police had to use rubber bullets to disperse a crowd of a thousand protesters in front of the Iranian embassy in Bern. The demonstrators protested against the death of Mahsa Amini, who was held in Iranian police custody the month before."Hundreds of Swiss demonstrate against Iranian repression" swissinfo. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
Tax evasion
In 2014, international medias reported Iranian nationals to be listed among the tax evaders in Switzerland.
Death of Swiss diplomat
In 2021, Iranian authorities found the dead body of a Swiss diplomat at the base of a tower in Tehran. The cause of the fall was “unknown”.
Diplomatic representation on behalf of the United States
The Swiss diplomatic corps in Tehran has represented U.S. interests soon after the Islamic revolution in 1979. A number of crucial agreements such as the JCPOA in 2015 but particularly direct affairs such as the exchange of U.S. and Iranian detainees in 2023 were negotiated through the Swiss protecting power mandate. Secretary of State Antony Blinken thanked Switzerland for its valuable service during the prisoner swap in 2023.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry summoned Swiss charge d'affaires in September 2023. Earlier, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary General Jasem Mohamed AlBudaiwi and GCC member states' foreign ministers in New York and issued a joint statement that included a warning to Iran “to cease its proliferation of dangerous weapons that pose a grave security threat to the region". Despite an improved diplomatic climate between the U.S. and Iran and renewed diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran, Tehran claims the plunder by the U.S “of the region's wealth and resources through pursuing its Iranophobia policy." The Swiss diplomat assured to convey Iran's protest to Washington as soon as possible. “Iran summons Swiss charge d'affaires over U.S. anti-Tehran claims” xinhuanet. Accessed 30 Sep 2023.
In the aftermath of the Israeli airstrike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus in April 2024, the U.S. indirectly communicated with Iran through the Swiss intermediary about the imminent attack on Israel. Iran also utilised the Swiss protecting power mandate to communicate to the U.S. concerning Iranian demands. While the Swiss mandate played a vital role during the conflict, its foreign ministry refused to divulge any reaction Switzerland had taken in reaction to the attack."Iran says it gave warning before attacking Israel. US says that's not true" April 1, 2024. Reuters. Accessed Sep 8, 2024"Vital Swiss Role As US-Iran Go-between, As Tensions Soar". AFP. Accessed 8 Sep 2024.
In early October 2024 after Iran's second attack on Israel, foreign minister Abbas Araqchi communicated to the U.S. via the Swiss embassy saying "it was our right to self-defence and that we do not intend to continue (the attack)"."After raining missiles on Israel, Iran warns US ‘via Switzerland’ over regional tension: Report" firstpost.com. Accessed Oct 8 2024.
On June 20, 2025, it was reported that Switzerland will temporary shut down its embassy in Tehran due to the Twelve-Day War between Iran and Israel. The staff left the country and is safe, but Switzerland would continue to represent U.S. interests in Iran and urged the parties urgently to return to dialogue.
Bilateral relations
Marking 100 years of high-level diplomatic ties, Swiss president Ignazio Cassis made an official visit to Iran from 5 to 7 September 2020. Mr Cassis‘ encounter with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani underscored the successful bilateral ties and continued presence of Swiss companies and institutions in Iran. Swiss Representatives of the national security and foreign affairs committees were also present at the talks. Swiss officials were introduced to the new speaker of the Iranian Parliament Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, reflecting the excellent cooperation between the two nations. Discussions on the ongoing Swiss humanitarian channel were another important topic during the visit by the Swiss president.
Death of Swiss national held on spying charges in Iranian detention In January 2025, Iranian state media reported that a Swiss national had died in captivity in Iran after being held on espionage charges. The Swiss national, unnamed as of 10 January 2025, was found dead in the Semnan prison, 100 miles or so east of Tehran.
Asylum application of Iranian officials In January 2026, a senior official at Iran's permanent mission to the UN, Alireza Jeyrani Hokmabad, requested asylum from Switzerland, deciding not to return to Iran out of fear of the social upheaval there. Hokmabad is reportedly one of several Iranian diplomats who requested asylum from European countries due to the protests. On 3 February, 2026, it was reported that a second diplomat, Gholam-Reza Derikvand, Chargé d'affaires of the Iranian embassy in Vienna, also had requested asylum from Switzerland.
Trade Oil trade
Marc Rich, a US-Israeli-Belgian businessman with international ties, entered Iran through his Glencore company headquartered in Switzerland. Rich ignored US and international sanctions on Iran and became the major trader of Iranian oil for 15 years.
Arms trade with Israel and Swiss banks
The Observer estimated that Israel-based private arms dealers sold Iran US-made weapons during the Iran–Iraq War totaled US$500 million annually, to supply Iran's Shah-based arsenal at the time. Time magazine reported that throughout 1981 and 1982, "the Israelis reportedly set up Swiss bank accounts to handle the financial end of the deals”.For more on Israeli Hawk missile sales to Iran see Richard Johns, "Arms Embargo Which Cannot Withstand The Profit Motive," Financial Times (London), 13 November 1987)
Trade agreements