By Eric Vandenbroeck and co-workers

Swiss diplomats leave Tehran

Switzerland warns of Iran threat as former diplomats’ deaths re-examined.

Switzerland’s unique role as Washington’s protecting power in Tehran “increases the visibility of Swiss personnel to hostile services.”

Five Swiss diplomats left the Iranian capital with their families by land on their own means on Tuesday, a Swiss foreign ministry spokesperson has confirmed.

Seven diplomats remain in Tehran, mainly to fulfil the mandate to protect American interests in Iran.

The Swiss channel is active for both parties (the United States and Iran) and in both directions. “And I can tell you that it is being used by both sides,” Nicolas Bideau, head of communications at the foreign ministry, told the Keystone-SDA news agency.

“Swiss Ambassador Nadine Olivieri is still in Tehran; she leads Swiss diplomacy in Iran,” he told Swiss public television, RTS, on Tuesday. “Swiss staff who are not active on the diplomatic front have left Iran”.

“Five transferable staff with their families left Iran on Tuesday,” said Bideau, adding that the representation in Tehran has seven transferable staff and 23 local staff.

In addition, “two accompanying persons (children or spouses, editor’s note) left Israel on Tuesday by land”, the spokesperson continued, pointing out that the Swiss diplomatic representation in Tel Aviv has seven transferable staff and 18 local staff.

Switzerland’s intelligence service said Wednesday that Iranian espionage posed a growing threat to Swiss diplomats, Switzerland’s intelligence service said Wednesday that Iranian espionage posed a growing threat to Swiss diplomats. Hours after a Swiss public television investigation cast new doubt on a series of mysterious deaths involving Swiss citizens in Iran.

The report noted that Switzerland’s unique role as Washington’s protecting power in Tehran “increases the visibility of Swiss personnel to hostile services.”

Because of the conflict between Israel and Iran, many Swiss nationals are waiting to leave the war-torn region. The Swiss foreign ministry has received 130 applications from people wishing to leave either Israel or Iran.

 

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