Authorities stated that exports of military equipment to countries involved in the conflict cannot be approved for its duration. “The export of war materiel to countries involved in the international armed conflict with Iran cannot be authorised for the duration of the conflict,” the government said in a statement.
The Federal Council said the measure follows earlier discussions on neutrality and specific operational decisions taken in mid-March. It concluded that, as the United States is directly involved in the conflict, the legal conditions under the War Materiel Act prohibit new export licences.
Since the escalation of hostilities on 28 February, Switzerland has not issued any new licences for arms exports to the United States. Existing licences remain valid, as authorities determined they are not currently relevant to the conflict.
However, these licences will be subject to ongoing scrutiny by an interdepartmental expert group. The group, comprising representatives from the economy, foreign affairs and defence ministries, will regularly assess exports to ensure compliance with neutrality obligations.
The review will also extend to dual-use goods, specific military items subject to export controls and other goods affected by sanctions on Iran. The government noted that a restrictive approach to exports to Israel is already in place, while no definitive licences have been granted to Israel or Iran for several years.
Swiss Defence Minister Martin Pfister said the decision reflects established principles of Swiss foreign policy. “The US knows the maxims of Swiss foreign policy,” he said, adding that the government does not expect negative reactions from Washington.
The move has prompted mixed domestic reactions, with industry representatives criticising the timing and political parties offering differing assessments. Some viewed the decision as insufficient, while others said the government had little choice given legal obligations.
Legal experts have noted that Switzerland retains the authority to suspend or revoke previously granted licences if required. “The legal basis for precisely such cases stipulates that the authorities can also revert to authorisations that have already been granted. It can suspend them, it can even revoke them,” said Evelyne Schmid of the University of Lausanne.
Source: swissinfo.ch
