Media: Senior Iranian diplomat seeks asylum in Switzerland

A senior Iranian diplomat stationed at the United Nations’ European headquarters in Geneva has reportedly left his post and applied for asylum in Switzerland, diplomatic sources told Iran International, highlighting growing tensions within Iran.

Alireza Jeyrani Hokmabad, who served as minister plenipotentiary and effectively as the deputy head of Iran’s mission to the UN in Geneva, submitted the asylum request alongside his family after leaving his workplace, the sources said. Jeyrani previously held the rank of counsellor and had been representing Iran in key UN-affiliated economic forums covering trade, development, and investment.

Diplomatic sources indicate that Jeyrani’s decision not to return to Iran stems from concerns over possible repercussions linked to the ongoing political and social unrest in the country, as well as broader anxieties about the stability of the Islamic Republic’s governing structure.

Jeyrani joined Iran’s mission in Geneva in 2017 as an adviser and rose through the ranks over the following years. According to sources, several other Iranian diplomats in Europe have recently explored or submitted asylum applications. 

By Sabina Mammadli