Switzerland on Friday declared that it will not grant licenses for companies to carry out weapon exports to the United States, citing the ongoing conflict with Iran.
“The export of war materiel to countries involved in the international armed conflict with Iran cannot be authorized for the duration of the conflict,” the government stated.
The move aligns with Switzerland’s long-standing policy of military neutrality, and it also follows the government’s decision to restrict its airspace to U.S. military flights directly connected to the war in Iran.
The government stated that exports of war materiel to the United States are currently not permitted, and existing U.S. export licenses will be subject to ongoing reviews. It further noted that Switzerland has not granted war materiel export licenses to Israel or Iran for several years.
A Swiss federal law enacted in 1996 requires that the import, export, and transit of military equipment and related technologies be subject to licensing, guided by principles of neutrality and human rights.
In addition, exports of dual‑use items and certain military goods will also be regularly reviewed by a group of experts.
The United States imports military equipment such as components and spare parts for fighter jets, large-calibre ammunition, specialized explosives, as well as small arms and military aircraft. According to government data, the U.S. was the second-largest recipient of Swiss arms last year, with imports valued at $119 million.
The Swiss government had earlier prevented allied nations from re-exporting Swiss-made equipment to Ukraine, which has been defending against Russia’s invasion since 2022.
After the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, Switzerland restricted flights through its airspace and banned arms exports to nations involved in the conflict, before eventually lifting those measures.
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