Swiss team to make first Iran visit in decade after nuclear deal

GENEVA: A Swiss business delegation will go to Iran this weekend in the first such visit in 10 years to try and expand trade ties, the finance ministry said Friday.

The team, comprising executives from the pharmaceutical, green energy and services sectors, will be led by Livia Leu, who served as Swiss ambassador to Tehran between 2009 and 2013, it said.

The four-day visit starting Sunday comes after Iran and six world powers agreed on the outlines of a potentially historic deal aimed at curbing Tehran’s nuclear drive after marathon talks in Switzerland early this month.

Leu, the head of bilateral ties at the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs, had said after the deal that this was a "very propitious" time to visit the Islamic republic.

Switzerland eased economic sanctions against Iran at the start of last year.

Trade between the two countries amounted to 640 million Swiss francs (620 million euros, $670 million) last year with the balance heavily tipped in favour of Switzerland.