TEHRAN (Iran News) The protesters held their rally on Saturday, marching toward the Swiss Foreign Ministry, chanting “Freedom for Palestine”.

They carried banners reading “Children are being killed in Gaza,” “Schools and hospitals are being bombed,” and “Stop the genocide”.

Israel launched its genocidal war on Gaza on October 7, 2023, following Al Aqsa Storm Operation by the Palestinian Hamas Resistance Movement on the southern parts of Israeli-occupied territories.

The genocide in Gaza, now in its second year, has drawn growing international condemnation, with officials and rights groups describing the Israeli attacks and its blockade of aid as a deliberate attempt to destroy a population.

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According to the ICANA website, the two discussed bilateral issues and ways to expand ties.

Aebi visited Tehran on Sunday afternoon.

Seyyed Nezamoddin Mousavi, spokesman for the presiding board of the parliament, greeted Aebi upon his arrival.

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IRAN NEWS ECONOMIC DESK

TEHRAN – President of Iran-Swiss Chamber of Commerce Mr. Sharif Nezam Mafi says Iran will face problem for purchasing of coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine out of the Swiss humanitarian trade agreement (SHTA), adding that the SHTA has been launched for this purpose and it will need no joining the FATF.

Speaking to ILNA, Nezam Mafi said that the chamber predicted that the SHTA would be one of the few channels for providing COVID-19 vaccine and the process is underway, adding the strange thing is the U.S. Administration issued license for Iran to use its frozen assets to purchase vaccine. He said nobody expected this to happen during the Trump Administration but the world community pressures forced the U.S. to make such a decision.

He further said that since the SHTA can function out of the FATF system, this license was issued, adding that two Iranian banks observe the FATF regulations and for this reason there is no problem for such trades through these banks.

He expressed hope that after purchase of COVID-19 vaccine, the country would be able to do more purchases and by revising the decision on joining the FATF, Iranian banks could be delisted by the FATF.

Nezam Mafi went on to say that the country should work to remove some 18 Iranian banks from the FATF black list because even the U.S. under Joe Biden returns to the JCPOA, the FATF woe will still remain and this is the woe that we ourselves have created it.

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IRAN NEWS NATIONAL DESK

Commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) said that Iran will respond decisively to the assassination of the country’s prominent nuclear scientist, Mohsen Fakhrizadeh.

“The sworn enemies of Islamic Iran must know that we will continue the path of this martyr and the path of martyrs will never stop,” said Major General Hossein Salami on Tuesday on the sidelines of the commemoration ceremony of Iranian scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh.

Stating that the enemy is focused on the strengths of the Iranians out of fear, he added, “To resort to criminal acts such as assassination means that we must train the likes of Martyr Fakhrizadeh.”

He emphasized that the path of this martyr will continue with more determination by his students, saying, “The enemies must await our reactions; we determine the time, place and quality of the response.”

Previously, IRGC Chief Commander in a message had highlighted, “The enemies of the Iranian nation, especially the commanders, perpetrators and supporters of this crime, should know that such crimes will not undermine the determination of the Iranians to continue this glorious and authoritarian path, and severe revenge and punishment of the perpetrators are on the agenda.”

Meanwhile yesterday, Deputy Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps stressed the revenge on perpetrators of the Iranian scientist assassination is definite.

Rear Admiral Ali Fadavi announced the progress of the investigation on the case of the assassination of Martyr Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, saying that the final results will be declared as soon as possible.

“We will definitely move forward in this case, and various relevant institutions from the IRGC and the Ministry of Intelligence are investigating this case around the clock,” he said.

Emphasizing on taking revenge on the perpetrators and commanders of the assassination of Martyr Fakhrizadeh, Fadavi said, “We will definitely act as soon as our response is sufficient and appropriate.”

Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, head of the Research and Innovation Organization of the Ministry of Defense and a scientist in the country’s nuclear industry, was martyred on Friday (November 27th) in a terrorist attack around Tehran.

The assassination of the Iranian prominent nuclear and defense scientist followed many international reactions and many countries including Syria, Russia, Swiss, Venezuela, South Africa, Turkey, Qatar, Kuwait, Lebanon, Jordan, and Afghanistan condemned it.

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“History has shown that the Iranian people will not give in to the arrogance, bullying and coercion of a power,” Rouhani told Cassis who paid a three-day visit to Iran, celebrating a century of diplomatic relations between Tehran and Bern.

Rouhani said the US has imposed “cruel and unfair” sanctions on Iran over the past two and a half years in an effort to overthrow the Islamic Republic.

Tensions between Iran and the US have escalated since 2018, after President Donald Trump withdrew the US from an international agreement on Tehran’s nuclear program and reinstated tough sanctions on Iran.

Rouhani said the US has been seeking to topple the Islamic Republic and interfere in Iran’s internal affairs for years.

He said Trump “miscalculated” he would to be able to bring down Iran’s establishment “within three months” by “waging an economic war”.

The Iranian president said “the way is open” for the US to “make up for its illegal actions” and return to the Iran nuclear deal and a UN Security Council resolution that endorsed the 2015 accord.

Rouhani further noted that Iran expects “friendly and free nations” not to remain silent about “US terrorist operations” including the assassination of Iran’s top General Qassem Soleimani in a drone strike in Iraq earlier this year.

Respecting international law

The Swiss foreign minister referred to the 100th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries and described the bilateral ties as “very good and sincere”.

Cassis underlined the need for respecting international law, especially by world powers, in order to maintain global security.

He said Switzerland is aware of the trouble caused by the US sanctions for the Iranian nation and noted that a financial channel launched by Bern is aimed at easing those troubles.

“We will try to increase the useful role of the channel,” the top diplomat said.

Known by its acronym SHTA, the Swiss channel is a payment mechanism aimed to enable food, medicine and other humanitarian aid to be sent to Iran without dealing with US sanctions.

Humanitarian goods are theoretically exempt from sanctions, but international purchases of such supplies are almost impossible since banks are wary of falling foul of the US over doing business with Iran.

The channel was established and conducted its first transaction earlier this year.

‘Excellent, fruitful’ talks 

IRNA

Earlier in the day, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif held talks with Cassis, as part of the Swiss diplomat’s three-day visit to Tehran, celebrating a century of diplomatic relations between Iran and Switzerland.

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.

Zarif called the talks “excellent” on Twitter and said “while appreciating Swiss efforts to mitigate US sabotage, a return to normal trade is global priority.”

He said Iran’s ties with Switzerland “endure based on mutual respect”.

Cassis said talks with Zarif were “fruitful” and that they revolved around “peace, economic development and human rights”.

“Peace, economic development and human rights – fruitful discussion with my counterpart,” Cassis wrote on Twitter following the talks.

“I’m glad we could establish together the Swiss Humanitarian Channel for the transfer of food and medical supplies to the people of Iran,” Cassis said.

The Swiss Embassy in Tehran handles US interests in Iran, since ties were cut in the aftermath of the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Switzerland has also played a major role in prisoner swaps between Tehran and Washington.

According to the US Department of State, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had a phone call with Cassis before his Tehran visit, raising speculation the visit involved talks on Tehran-Washington relations.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh denied the “speculations” on Monday, saying it was a planned visit delayed over the novel coronavirus outbreak and “not related to Iran and the US”.

On Sunday, the Swiss official met with Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf.

The senior legislator underlined the Iranian people’s pessimistic view of the United States caused by Washington’s unilateral, oppressive, and illegal sanctions against Tehran.

AFP and Press TV contributed to this story.

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IRAN NEWS POLITICAL DESK

TEHRAN – Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis described his meeting with Iranian counterpart as ‘fruitful’.

In a Monday tweet, Cassis wrote, “Peace, economic development and human rights – fruitful discussion with my counterpart, @JZarif.”

“I’m glad we could establish together the Swiss Humanitarian Channel for the transfer of food and medical supplies to the people of Iran,” he added.

Heading a delegation, Ignazio Cassis met and held talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Monday morning and later with President Hassan Rouhani.

During meeting with Cassis, President Rouhani urged Europe to stand against the U.S. unilateralism and called for boosting bilateral ties with Switzerland.

The president called on Switzerland to enhance the effectiveness of a financial mechanism it has set up for trade with Iran, so that Tehran could release part of its assets abroad.

The Swiss embassy in Tehran handles U.S. interests in Iran, since ties were cut in the aftermath of the 1979 Islamic revolution.

“Peace, economic development and human rights – fruitful discussion with my counterpart,” Cassis wrote on Twitter following the talks.

Switzerland has also played a major role in prisoner swaps between Tehran and Washington.

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

Cassis was marking 100 years of Swiss diplomatic presence in Tehran and 40 years of representing U.S. interests in the country.

On Sunday, Cassis visited the Swiss embassy foreign interests section, which has been representing U.S. interests in Iran for 40 years. Switzerland has been serving as an intermediary between the two countries since 1980 after the collapse of diplomatic relations between them.

The main aim of the visit is to strengthen relations between Iran and Switzerland, Cassis told Swiss public television, SRF.

“This serves to create trust for the bilateral path between Switzerland and Iran and for the protecting power mandate – as a mediator between the United States and Iran,” he declared.

On Sunday evening, Cassis opened an exhibition at the Negarestan Garden in Tehran on the history of Swiss-Iranian bilateral relations. The exhibition showcases 100 years of Swiss diplomatic presence in Iran.

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