Iran, Swiss presidents explore ways to deepen ties

President Hassan Rouhani and his Swiss counterpart, Alain Berset, have held talks on issues of common interest and explored ways to strengthen bilateral Tehran-Bern relations in various fields.

According to Press TV, during a meeting in Bern late on Monday, the two presidents stressed that there is no obstacle to the enhancement of ties between Iran and Switzerland, and that the two countries are determined to employ all means to that end.

The Iranian president also underlined the need for dialog between the two countries over important regional and global issues.

Rouhani further touched on Iran’s regional role and said Tehran’s foreign policy is based on “cooperation and friendship with its neighbors." The Islamic Republic, he added, has “never sparked tensions in the region.”

He further described the Iran nuclear deal as a “multilateral, international agreement,” adding that the US withdrawal from the accord proved its lack of commitment to its international obligations.

The Swiss president, for his part, expressed satisfaction with the growing Tehran-Bern relations, especially in the field of science.

He also reaffirmed Switzerland’s support for the Iran nuclear deal, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), noting that all countries should work to preserve the accord, which is the outcome of a lengthy diplomatic process and has been endorsed by the United Nations Security Council.

The duo were then joined by Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and his Swiss counterpart, Ignazio Cassis, who had held a separate meeting earlier.

Earlier, Rouhani told a group of Iranians in Switzerland that Washington's pullout from the nuclear deal was aimed at “putting pressure on the Iranian nation,” but Tehran would never give in to foreign pressure.

Rouhani is accompanied by a high-ranking politico-economic delegation during his two-day visit, which is taking place at the invitation of the Swiss president.

The two countries are expected to ink several documents on bilateral cooperation on Tuesday.

From Switzerland, the Iranian president will travel to Austria, where he will meet President Alexander Van der Bellen and Chancellor Sebastian Kurz and oversee the signing of some documents for cooperation.

During his stay in Europe, the Iranian president is expected to address the future of the JCPOA following the US decision in May to pull out of the nuclear deal and re-impose the nuclear-related sanctions against Iran.

Tehran says it stays in the deal only if the European parties to the JCPOA give Iran practical assurances that its interests would remain intact when American sanctions return.

Europeans are currently working to finalize a package of proposals to help protect Iran’s dividends from the JCPOA and keep the landmark agreement alive.

ME