Maybe Ignazio Cassis (61) has the wrong department for his presidential year. Instead of opening festivals and congratulating athletes, in the war year 2022, the Secretary of State should guide the nation on its neutrality-political self-discovery journey. The Russian attack on Ukraine has thrown the head of the FDFA into the middle of a debate over arms supplies to Kiev and sanctions against Moscow.
Now a new political front is opening up in Bern, forcing Cassis to take a stand. In Iran, the people are revolting against the ruthless repressive apparatus of the mullahs, whose accomplices are ruthless. Several hundred dead, including minors, and thousands in torture prisons make up the balance. Forty days after the protests started, this did not stop the women and men from demonstrating.
America and Europe respond with sanctions against members of the Iranian security forces. Which puts the ball in Switzerland’s hands. In Parliament, the pressure on the Federal Council is mounting to go along. SP councilor Daniel Jositsch (57) submitted a request on Thursday to the Foreign Policy Committee (APK) for the adoption of EU sanctions against Tehran. In fact, the Zurich resident is demanding that Switzerland “actively support a UN human rights mission” which, he says, should “investigate and document the regime’s crimes in Iran”.
Switzerland as postman
So far undisputed – or not? There is a problem: Switzerland has represented US interests in Iran since 1980 and vice versa. This postman position between the two warring powers is the main protective power mandate of the Confederacy.
Many members of the diplomatic corps see this privilege in jeopardy if Bern joins the sanctions from Brussels. In an interview with SonntagsBlick, a federal employee emphasizes that much more can be achieved behind the scenes than with sanctions, some of which are also symbolic, citing the example of the artist Raziyeh Jalili, who won her Worldskills gold medal in Geneva out of solidarity. having been rejected by their compatriots. In this case, Switzerland also worked in Tehran for the good of the young Iranian.
Sooner or later, FDFA head Cassis will face a fateful decision between a potential threat to the protecting power’s mandate and criticism of remaining inactive, as was heard after the outbreak of war in Ukraine. In any case, the Central State Councilor Pirmin Bischof (63) as chairman of the APK has put the proposals for sanctions against Iran on the agenda for November 17, the Sunday newspaper Blick confirms.
Sanctions demanded from their own ranks
Ironically, the Secretary of State’s party colleagues are also open to sanctions. “Neutrality does not mean that you are the only one who turns a blind eye to blatant human rights violations,” said Ausserrhoden FDP member of the Council of States Andrea Caroni (42), who is also on the APK and believes that some units of the Iranian security apparatus deserves to be sanctioned.
The State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) of the Economic Department of the EAER is said to be responsible for sanctions against Iran. According to information from SonntagsBlick, they are preparing a corresponding application for that. Upon request, a Seco spokesperson said: “The analyzes of the new EU sanctions against Iran are currently being pushed forward in full speed in the EAER and Seco.” It is therefore quite possible that the Federal Council will soon consider the matter.
Because the local banks support the US sanctions, Switzerland is not interesting for members of the Iranian state as a refuge at sea. Nevertheless, the Alpine republic seems attractive to government families: As Iranwire, an international portal of opposition Iranian journalists, reports, senior representatives of the system are currently trying to get Western passports for their families. The focus is on Great Britain, Canada – and Switzerland.