The U.S. Interests Protector in Tehran Takes on the Protection of Iran's Interests in Riyadh

The spokesperson for Iran's Foreign Ministry stated that after consultations with Saudi Arabia, Switzerland has agreed to act as the protector of Iran's interests in Riyadh, while also taking on the protection of Saudi interests in Tehran. According to Iranian news agencies, Hossein Jaberi Ansari said on Sunday, February 14, in response to media questions about Switzerland's role as the protector of interests in Tehran-Riyadh relations, that Iran had requested Switzerland to take on the protection of the Islamic Republic's interests in Riyadh. He added that Switzerland had expressed its readiness to accept this role but had conditioned its finalization on consultations with Saudi Arabia. This is the first time in 37 years that a European country has taken on the role of protecting Iran's interests after the Islamic Republic severed relations with a country. Previously, during the severance of relations with the United States, Pakistan was introduced as the protector of Tehran's interests in Washington, and during the severance of relations with Britain and Canada, Oman was introduced by Iran as the protector of interests. Meanwhile, Switzerland has acted as the protector of U.S. interests in Iran since the severance of relations between Iran and the U.S. in 1979, playing an effective role in various cases, including prisoner exchanges between Iran and the U.S. According to Hossein Jaberi Ansari, Saudi Arabia also had a similar request for Switzerland to act as the protector of Riyadh's interests in Tehran, and 'Switzerland, after making the necessary diplomatic arrangements, will officially take on the protection of Iran's interests in Riyadh and the protection of Saudi interests in Tehran.' Just hours before the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson's remarks, international media reported statements from Adel al-Jubeir, the Saudi Foreign Minister, indicating that Switzerland would take on the protection of Saudi interests in Iran. Saudi Arabia severed its relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran following an attack on its embassy in Tehran last January. Now, as reported by Reuters, the Saudi Foreign Minister announced in a joint press conference with the Swiss Foreign Minister in Riyadh that the Swiss embassy in Tehran would provide consular services related to the entry of Hajj pilgrims to Saudi Arabia. Adel al-Jubeir added that 'Switzerland offered to handle Saudi consular affairs in Iran, and we accepted it with thanks.' He also stated in this press conference that 'there is no need for mediation in disputes with Iran.' Iran and Saudi Arabia have had cold relations since the establishment of the Islamic Republic, except for periods during the administrations of Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani and Mohammad Khatami, and in recent years, the relations between the two countries have deteriorated over Iran's nuclear program and the crises in Syria and Yemen, with both countries accusing each other of interfering in regional affairs. Tensions in relations between the two countries escalated after the deaths of several Iranian pilgrims during this year's Hajj in Mina, ultimately worsening following the execution of Sheikh Nimr, a Shia cleric in Saudi Arabia on January 12, and the attack on Saudi diplomatic missions in Tehran and Mashhad. In response to these attacks, Saudi Arabia completely severed its diplomatic relations with Tehran and demanded the expulsion of Iranian embassy staff from Riyadh. Although the Saudi Foreign Minister announced a few days later that Iranian Hajj pilgrims could still travel to the country. Following the severance of relations between Saudi Arabia and Tehran, Pakistan has expressed its willingness to mediate between the two countries. During the execution of Sheikh Nimr and the attack on the Saudi embassy in Tehran, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani condemned these events but simultaneously expressed a desire to resolve the disputes between the two countries. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, while repeatedly accusing Saudi Arabia of exacerbating tensions in the region, has emphasized that Iran is not interested in severing relations with Saudi Arabia and engaging in 'retaliatory actions.'