Iran, Switzerland discuss regional developments

A high-ranking delegation from Switzerland met here with Iranian Foreign Ministry officials, the official IRNA news agency reported Monday. Wolfgang Amadeus Brulhart, director of Swiss Foreign Ministry for the Middle East and North Africa Affairs, who arrived here on Sunday, reviewed the recent regional developments with Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister for Europe and American Affairs, Majid Takhtravanchi. The Swiss diplomat also discussed with head of Foreign Ministry 's West Europe Division, Abolqasem Delfi, issues of mutual interests, the report said. The two sides underlined the need to restore peace and security to the region through diplomacy, voicing readiness to boost bilateral political, economic, cultural and parliamentary relations. The report gave no further details about the talks, however, observers here speculate that Brulhart might have carried a message from the United States to Iran as Switzerland represents the interests of the U.S. government in the Islamic republic after the U.S. embassy was stormed and seized by Iranian students in 1979. The United States has threatened to launch punitive measure on Syria over alleged charges of chemical weapons use by the Syrian government against civilians. The Islamic republic, co-voiced with the Syrian government, has rejected the allegations.