Switzerland has officially accepted a request by Iran that its mission in Saudi Arabia handle Tehran’s interests.
Early last month, Riyadh severed diplomatic ties with Tehran after outraged protesters stormed the Saudi Embassy in Tehran following the execution of a prominent Shia cleric in the Arab kingdom.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hossein Jaberi Ansari said on Sunday that after making the required “diplomatic arrangements”, the Swiss missions in the two countries will host interests sections of the regional rivals, IRNA reported.
Earlier in the day, Reuters quoted the Saudi foreign minister as saying that Switzerland will handle Saudi Arabia’s consular affairs in Iran and will facilitate Iranian pilgrims coming to the kingdom.
“Switzerland offered to ... handle the [consular] interests of Saudi Arabia in Iran, and we in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia appreciated that and accepted,” Adel al-Jubeir told a joint news conference with his Swiss counterpart.
He also said, however, there was no need for mediation in its rift with Iran.
