Press release
12 July 2012
Ministry for Foreign Affairs
Sweden to act as protecting power for the UK in Iran
"Sweden has been asked to act as protecting power for the United Kingdom in Iran. We are pleased that Sweden is able to take on this mandate in the situation that has arisen," says Minister for Foreign Affairs Carl Bildt.
Under this mandate, Sweden will safeguard Britains administrative, consular and humanitarian interests in Iran. A British Interests Section at the Swedish Embassy in Tehran will provide limited consular assistance to British citizens in Iran, and take care of British embassy staff and property for as long as the British Embassy remains closed.
Sweden previously served as protecting power for the UK in Iran for much of the 1980s until 1990. A protecting power agreement must be accepted by the receiving State, in this case Iran, and this has been done.
Contact
Anna Charlotta Johansson+46 8 405 00 00
Mats Foyer
International Law and Human Rights Department, Ministry for Foreign Affairs
+46 8 405 26 53
+46 72 543 16 20
