Iran Summons Swiss Envoy to Protest Tillerson’s Claims

Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi said that following the “meddlesome and injudicious” statements by US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson about regime change in Iran, Tehran has summoned Switzerland’s charge d’affaires and gave him an official letter of protest.

Qassemi said that the letter has been handed over to the Swiss envoy by foreign ministry’s director general for the Americas, Mohammad Keshavarz-Zadeh.

“Our director general for the Americas has strongly condemned the remarks made by Tillerson in the US House of Representatives, calling them a clear interference in domestic affairs of the Islamic Republic,” Qassemi added.

“Tillerson’s statements are against the principles of international law and the international commitments of the US government, including the United Nations Charter, and agreements between Tehran and Washington. The US administration should be held accountable for these remarks,” Qassemi quoted Keshavarz-Zadeh as saying.

In this meeting, the Swiss representative said he will convey Tehran’s message to the US administration and inform Iran’s government of the results as soon as possible.

In an address to the US House Foreign Affairs Committee last Wednesday, Tillerson claimed that Iran continues activities and interventions that destabilise the Middle East.

He also accused Iran of providing support for the Assad government, funding militias and foreign fighters in Iraq and Yemen, and arming “terrorist” organizations like Hezbollah, which threaten Washington’s ally Israel.

Tillerson suggested that the policy of regime change is back on the US agenda, and Washington would help elements inside Iran bring about a ‘peaceful transition’ of the Iranian Establishment.