Iranian Foreign Ministry Denies Swiss Envoy Summoned By IRGC

The spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry denied Monday that the Swiss ambassador in Tehran was summoned by the Revolutionary Guards over recent tensions between Iran and Israel.

The controversy began last week when Mojtaba Abtahi, an advisor to the minister of interior, claimed that "At 3 AM on Monday, April 14, when the Iranian attack on Israel was nearly finished, the Swiss ambassador, representing US interests, was summoned not to the ministry of foreign affairs, but to a Revolutionary Guards base."

The story was backed by a report in The New York Times, which stated that during the attack on Israel, the Swiss ambassador was indeed summoned, but to a Guards' base.

In a press conference on Monday, Nasser Kanaani claimed that "there has been continuous contact with the Swiss ambassador in Iran, and the diplomatic apparatus has acted completely professionally." He also highlighted Switzerland's role as a crucial conduit for diplomatic communications between the US and Iran.

Such a move would be a breach of diplomatic protocol, as traditionally, any official dealings with an ambassador -- even those concerning military or economic issues -- are managed by the host nation's foreign ministry. The alleged bypassing of official diplomatic channels is another proof for the potential sway of the Guards over the Iranian foreign ministry.

Last Saturday, Tehran launched 350 or more missiles and combat drones in retaliation for Israel’s April 1 air strike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus, killing a senior IRGC-Quds Force commander and several IRGC personnel. Israeli forces, backed by the US and other allies, intercepted approximately 99%, while the few that survived caused only minor damage. On Friday night, an air defense system at an Iranian air base in Isfahan was hit by an Israeli attack.