With Pakistan having emerged as the key mediator between the US and Iran, Switzerland is keeping the door open as a messenger and host for potential talks under its good offices.
On 26 February, Iranian and American officials met in Geneva for talks, mediated by Oman, on Tehran’s nuclear programme. They ended with some claims of progress, including by Swiss officials, before Israel and the United States went to war with Iran, two days later. Since the ceasefire was announced, some have questioned whether the parties may return to Geneva to resume negotiations. Bern says it remains in contact with all actors under its good offices, but the decisions are being made elsewhere.
On Wednesday, the Swiss foreign ministry welcomed the truce, saying it “constitutes an essential step towards de-escalating current tensions”. The implications of the ceasefire are still under review, it said, including the possible reopening of the Swiss embassy in Tehran, which has been closed for a month. Swiss ambassador Olivier Bangerter had been forced to leave the capital amid sustained daily bombardments.
Message conveyor
Bern continues to represent US interests in Iran, with messages still being relayed through the Swiss channel. However Pakistan, which represents Iran’s interests in the US, is currently taking the lead as mediator, while Oman and Qatar are also playing key roles. As the region’s only declared nuclear power – with Israel remaining ambiguous about its own arsenal – Islamabad, which enjoys good relations with both Tehran and Washington, has emerged as the intermediary, with active support from Beijing. Chinese media have, meanwhile, highlighted Beijing’s prominent role in this dynamic.
This does not necessarily mean that Switzerland has been sidelined. Bern has never acted as a direct intermediary in negotiations between Iran and the US. However, the government has provided discrete support to mediators in the past, such as during a prisoner exchange between Washington and Tehran in September 2023 under Qatari auspices. During the recent indirect talks led by Oman, foreign minister Ignazio Cassis also had the opportunity to speak with his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, who has so far been spared from targeted assassinations by Tel Aviv and Washington.
Diplomatic room for manoeuvre
Switzerland, nonetheless, remains a choice venue for any future negotiations, with its logistical attributes and diplomatic expertise appreciated by all parties. “The issue of good offices between Iran and the US is part of a broader political dynamic,” said Nicolas Bideau, head of communications at the foreign ministry, refusing to elaborate further due to Switzerland’s role as a protecting power. While Bern has aligned itself with most European Union sanctions against Iran, it refrains from sanctioning individuals, partly to maintain its diplomatic room for manoeuvre and to retain the ability to host representatives of the Iranian regime on its territory.
This article was originally published in French in Le Temps. It has been adapted and translated into English by Geneva Solutions. Articles from third-party websites are not licensed under Creative Commons and cannot be republished without the media’s consent.