GENEVA, March 8 (Xinhua) -- Swiss Federal Councillor and head of the Federal Department of Defense, Civil Protection and Sport Martin Pfister said in an interview published Sunday that the United States and Israel violated international law by attacking Iran.
In the interview with Swiss newspaper Tages-Anzeiger published on the newspaper's website, Pfister voiced concern over the escalating situation in the Middle East.
He said the Swiss Federal Council believes that the attacks on Iran violated international law because they breached the prohibition on the use of force, and called on all parties involved to halt violence and protect civilians.
Pfister added that Switzerland has in recent years worked to keep communication channels open between the United States and Iran, but "unfortunately, it is part of reality that such efforts do not always succeed."
Before the U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran, Iran and the United States held two rounds of indirect talks in Geneva, Switzerland, on Feb. 17 and Feb. 26 respectively. ■