GENEVA, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- The Swiss cabinet gave green light on Wednesday for the country to officially take up a protecting power mandate in the Iran-Saudi Arabia conflict, representing the two nations' consular interests in each other's capital, according to a cabinet statement.
The so-called protecting power mandates involve taking on some consular and diplomatic tasks in the event of a breakdown in relations between two states, allowing for the continuation of low-level engagement.
Switzerland has been in negotiations with the two countries since February 2016.
Saudi Arabia severed its diplomatic relations with Iran in January 2016, following demonstrations in front of the Saudi embassy in Tehran and its consulate in the northeastern city of Mashhad.
Angry protesters set the diplomatic missions ablaze for the execution of top Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr by Saudi Arabia.
In the past, Switzerland has fulfilled over 200 such missions, notably during the World War II.
However, Wednesday's cabinet statement indicated no intention for Switzerland to get involved at a more substantial level of mediation and facilitation efforts in the case of the Iran-Saudi standoff.
