Switzerland has begun a phased re-opening of its embassy in Iran after a six-week security closure, the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) confirmed on 25 April. Four staff members arrived in Tehran on Friday and will restore core consular and ‘protecting-power’ services, a function through which neutral Switzerland represents US interests in Iran. The mission was evacuated on 11 March when missile exchanges in the Gulf raised the risk profile for Western diplomats. With a cease-fire holding since 8 April, Bern says its risk analysis now permits a limited return, carried out in coordination with both Washington and Tehran. Full staffing will be contingent on further security assessments. The move is highly relevant for Swiss corporates and multinationals that rely on Switzerland’s unique facilitating role to issue US travel documents, handle prisoner transfers and process humanitarian trade channels exempt from sanctions. Swiss exporters of medical devices and agritech inputs—currently shipping under the humanitarian corridor—welcomed the news, noting that in-country paperwork had slowed to a crawl during the closure. Practically, the embassy’s consular section will reopen for limited hours next week, prioritising emergency travel documents and notarials for dual-nationals and business travellers. Companies with assignees in Iran should verify that local HR teams are enrolled in the FDFA’s TravelAdmin system to receive real-time security updates. The re-opening also signals cautious optimism for forthcoming US-Iran back-channel talks, where Swiss diplomats are expected to provide logistical support.
Source: The Local Switzerland (AFP wire)
