Iran-Swiss Archives - Iran News Daily

US Sanctions Won’t Affect Iran-Switzerland Financial Channel

reporter 1222 — Sat, 10 Oct 2020 11:58:28 +0000

TEHRAN (Iran News) – Chaiman of Iran-Switzerland Chamber of Commerce noted, “New sanctions of the US on 18 Iranian banks will not affect the Iran-Switzerland financial channel in terms of importing of cereals and pharmaceuticals.”

Sharif Nezam Mafi made some remarks in reaction to the recent move of the Trump administration for imposing new sanctions on 18 Iranian banks, in order to expand its economic pressure against Tehran ahead of the US election next month.

Emphasizing that the US secondary sanctions will not affect the Iran-Switzerland financial channel, he said: “In this regard, the agreements are made such that the old and secondary US sanctions cannot affect it; therefore, the Iranian traders can use this financial channel to import basic items such as medicine and grains without facing any problems.”

So far, the new sanctions have theoretically not affected the financial channel of Iran and Switzerland, he said and expressed hope that there won’t be any problems in the process of benefiting from this humanitarian channel.

Elsewhere in his remarks, he referred to the US election in November, adding, “Those who are likely to lose the upcoming election use anti-Iran issues and sanction as propaganda ploy in order win the election.”

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Iranian, Swiss Diplomats Talk in Tehran

reporter 1222 — Mon, 07 Sep 2020 12:58:45 +0000

TEHRAN (Iran News) – Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and his visiting Swiss counterpart Ignazio Cassis held meetings in Tehran on Monday.

Zarif and the senior Swiss diplomat, who has traveled to Iran to mark the 100th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic relations, held one-on-one negotiations before a meeting of delegations.

Apart from marking the longevity of the bilateral ties, the visit has also featured discussion over regional and international matters as well as expansion of mutual relations, Press TV reported.

Switzerland, which also represents the United States’ interests in Iran, hosts a so-called humanitarian channel, known as the Swiss Humanitarian Trade Arrangement (SHTA), which is meant to help Tehran avoid American sanctions. According to some reports, Cassis’ stay was also expected to help expand the channel.

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Swiss Deputy Calls Isfahan, Pearl of West Asia

reporter 1222 — Sat, 05 Sep 2020 12:53:17 +0000

TEHRAN (Iran News) – Stating that Iranian city of Isfahan a pearl in the West Asia (Middle East), Swiss deputy Ignazio Cassis described knowing the culture and people of a country as a prerequisite for good diplomatic relations.

In a tweet on Saturday, Cassis wrote, “Visit to the city of Isfahan – a pearl in the Middle East.”

“Knowing the culture and people of a country: a prerequisite for good diplomatic relations,” he added.

The Swiss Foreign Minister arrived in Isfahan this morning to pay a three-day visit and meet with officials of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Visiting the historical monuments of Isfahan, including Naqsh-e Jahan Square (one of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites), Vank church, and other tourist attractions and handicrafts were among the travel plans of Cassis and his accompanying delegation to Isfahan.

The Swiss Foreign Minister also met with some professors of Isfahan University of Technology at the Abbasi Hotel. Scientific, cultural and technological interactions were the focus of Cassis’ talks with professors of Isfahan University of Technology.

He also held talks with Governor of Isfahan Abbas Rezaie on Saturday.

Cassis is scheduled to return to Tehran to begin his official program on Sunday.

One of the most significant events during the Swiss official’s Iran visit will be a meeting marking the 100th anniversary of the start of relations between the two countries.

On Sunday and Monday respectively, the Swiss Foreign Minister will meet with President Hassan Rouhani and Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, as well as other Iranian high-ranking officials.

Some Swiss parliamentarians will accompany the Swiss Foreign Minister on a trip to Iran to meet with some Iranian parliamentary officials.

According to Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh, the Swiss Foreign Minister’s trip to Tehran has nothing to do with Iran-US issues and has already been planned within the framework of reciprocal ties.

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Swiss Senior Official due in Tehran to Mark 100-Year ties

reporter 1222 — Wed, 02 Sep 2020 04:16:08 +0000

TEHRAN (Iran News) – Swiss Embassy in Tehran announced that Federal Councilor Ignazio Cassis will visit Iran next week to commemorate the anniversary of Switzerland’s diplomatic presence in Tehran.

The announcement was made in a tweet on Tuesday by the Swiss Embassy in the Iranian capital.

“Federal Councillor @ignaziocassis will make an official visit to Iran from 5 to 7 September 2020 as part of the celebrations marking 100 years of Switzerland’s diplomatic presence in Tehran.”

On 6 September, Mr Cassis will open an exhibition at the historic Negarestan Garden in Tehran on the history of Swiss-Iranian bilateral relations,” it added in a statement attached to its message.

“On 7 September, Mr Cassis will meet with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani.”

Mr Cassis and his Iranian hosts will also discuss current developments concerning the nuclear deal and the situation in the Middle East.

“They will pay a courtesy visit to the new speaker of the Iranian Parliament, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf.”

IRNA contributed to this story.

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Iran raps Swiss humanitarian channel

reporter 1222 — Tue, 04 Feb 2020 05:29:18 +0000

TEHRAN (Iran News) — Tehran says a Swiss “humanitarian” channel set up to enable medicine import to Iran is insufficient, reminding that the U.S. is originally banned by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) from subjecting Iran’s much-needed medical supplies to sanctions.

“Medicine and foodstuffs were never subject to sanctions in the first place so that they can now create a channel with such a show,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi said on Monday at a press conference.

“We do not recognize any such so-called humanitarian channel,” Mousavi said, according to Press TV.

U.S. President Donald Trump withdrew Washington from the 2015 nuclear deal, known as the JCPOA, in May 2018 and restored the previous sanctions against Iran and ordered new ones.

Tehran has described the U.S. government’s sanctions as “economic war” and “economic terrorism”.

Iran says sanctions on its central bank will prevent it from providing medicine to its citizens.

Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said in late 2019 that the United States’ sanctions and economic war on Iran have targeted ordinary people’s health and livelihood.

“There was a time when such warfare was used to simply limit the activities of some countries. However, new warfare of the United States and what Trump has called the ‘economic war’ have targeted the ordinary people’s livelihood and health,” the chief diplomat lamented.

Health Minister Saeed Namaki said back in December 2019 that the United States lies when it says pharmaceuticals and medical equipment are not subject to its sanctions on Iran.

Meanwhile, under Washington’s pressure, Britain, France, and Germany have stopped their transactions with the Islamic Republic.

However, on Thursday, Switzerland launched the so-called Swiss Humanitarian Trade Arrangement (SHTA), claiming it was aimed at facilitating the medicine trade, reportedly using the Central Bank of Iran’s credits. Swiss officials have, however, refused to clarify how such transactions would continue if the CBI ran out of credit with Swiss banks.

Back in October 2018, The Hague-based International Court of Justice? the UN’s principal judicial body issued a ruling ordering the U.S. to halt its unilateral sanctions on “humanitarian” supplies to Iran. The verdict came following a lawsuit lodged by Iran in July of the same year.

In his Monday press conference, Mousavi said Washington is well aware that as per the ruling, it bears an obligation not to block such transactions, adding that these “conditional waivers” from the sanctions will not result in the U.S. war crimes passing into oblivion.

The medicine supplies, he added, were bound to enter the country a year and a half ago, but their imports were blocked by U.S. obstructionism.

The Swiss company tasked with facilitating the transactions “has been paid to do so,” he said, noting, “Our expectations far exceed such measures. And their obligations are hundreds of times more than what they are offering.”

He added that the Islamic Republic welcomes all efforts that are aimed at reducing the pressure faced by the country, but still Switzerland’s initiation of the SHTA, falls short of the expectations.

Zarif also said on Monday that the Swiss humanitarian channel is insufficient, drawing attention to the ICJ ruling in this regard.

The top diplomat noted that the U.S. keeps pursuing the policy of “maximum pressure” and denying Iran the financial channels that enable it to import medicine.

“This is a small step and we thank the Swiss government for its efforts … but this channel is not a sign of America’s goodwill at all,” he added.

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