Switzerland Designated as the Protector of Interests for Iran and Saudi Arabia

On Wednesday, November 3, the Swiss embassies in Iran and Saudi Arabia signed agreements regarding the protection of the interests of both countries in each other's capitals with officials from Riyadh and Tehran. News agencies reported, citing the Iranian Foreign Ministry, that 'the document establishing the office for the protection of the interests of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Saudi Arabia' was signed by Farazmand, the Director General for the Persian Gulf at the Foreign Ministry, and the Swiss ambassador in Tehran. According to this document, Switzerland will be responsible for protecting Iran's interests in Saudi Arabia. ISNA news agency reports that the office for the protection of Iran's interests is set to open soon in Jeddah with the presence of Iranian diplomats after the necessary arrangements are made. With the signing of these agreements, consular affairs related to Saudi Arabia will be handled by the Swiss embassy in Tehran, and consular affairs related to Iran will be managed by the Swiss embassy in Saudi Arabia. Relations between Tehran and Riyadh were severed following the attack by radical Islamists on the Saudi embassy and consulate in Tehran and Mashhad, which were set on fire in December 2015. This incident occurred after Saudi Arabia executed a prominent Shia cleric named 'Sheikh Nimr.' Since then, the relations between the two countries have been tense, with Iranian and Saudi officials periodically accusing each other of destabilizing the Middle East. According to Reuters, the Swiss government announced that the establishment of the offices for the protection of interests of Iran and Saudi Arabia was made possible after Tehran and Riyadh agreed last year to accept this responsibility at Switzerland's proposal. On Wednesday, the Swiss government announced its agreement to sign the documents related to the establishment of these offices. The statement from this government noted: 'Switzerland has a long history of representing the protection of foreign interests, whereby, upon request from countries that have severed relations, it takes on part of their consular services and sometimes diplomatic duties.' Switzerland has a record of protecting the interests of the United States and Cuba, as well as Iran and the United States. While the Iranian Foreign Minister has expressed Tehran's readiness to engage in dialogue with Riyadh, his Saudi counterpart has rejected this request, calling it 'ridiculous.' Mohammad Javad Zarif stated in mid-September to the Al-Mayadeen television network: 'Iran has always been ready for dialogue, but neighboring countries have not been prepared, and we welcome any developments in this regard. If Saudi Arabia wants to create a new page with Iran, we are also ready for it.' However, Adel al-Jubeir, the Saudi Foreign Minister, responded by saying that 'if Iran wants good relations with Saudi Arabia, it must change its policies. This country must respect international laws. Currently, we do not see... that they want to be a good neighbor.' This Saudi official also supported the imposition of new sanctions against Iran on November 2, stating: 'It is essential for the international community to support these (sanctions) to send a strong message to Iran that its malicious behavior and activities will have consequences.' These remarks were met with a response on Wednesday from Bahram Qasemi, the spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, who said: 'It is very regrettable that the Saudi Foreign Minister insists on following the same mistaken, costly, and fruitless approach of recent years and continues to beat the drum of tension, violence, and destructive behavior and policies.'