Second Senior Iranian Diplomat Defects to Switzerland

Iranian opposition outlet Iran International has reported that Gholam-Reza Derikvand, a senior diplomat formerly responsible for relations at Iran's embassy in Austria, has defected and sought political asylum in Switzerland.

This marks the second such defection in recent weeks, following Ali-Reza Hokmabad (also known as Alireza Jeyrani Hokmabad), a counselor at Iran's permanent mission to the UN in Geneva, who left his post and applied for asylum with his family in mid-January.

Sources cited by Iran International indicate Derikvand abandoned his assignment amid fears tied to Iran's domestic instability, including political unrest and concerns over the regime's future. Hokmabad's defection was similarly motivated by apprehensions about repercussions upon returning to Iran.Defections by Iranian diplomats are not uncommon during periods of upheaval, as seen after the 2009 Green Movement when several officials in Europe resigned.

These incidents highlight growing dissent within Iran's diplomatic corps, potentially signaling broader cracks in the Islamic Republic's structure.

Swiss authorities have not commented on the asylum requests, and Tehran has not issued an official response.