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Switzerland halts weapons exports to US due to Iran war, citing neutrality
Swiss authorities halted new export licenses for arms to the US amid the Iran conflict, affecting $119 million in sales, citing neutrality and human rights laws.
On March 20, 2026 the Swiss government said it will not issue licences for weapons exports to the United States, citing neutrality amid Iran conflict, with no licences issued since Feb. 28.
Under Swiss neutrality rules, exports to parties in an international armed conflict are prohibited, and since the escalation on Feb. 28, no new licences have been issued for war materiel exports to the US, Bern said.
Temporarily stopping new exports, Bern said Switzerland will halt shipments linked to new US arms and ammunition orders while existing licences judged irrelevant to the conflict can continue.
With the US taking about 10 % of Swiss arms shipments last year worth 94.2 million francs , Swiss arms producers have missed orders and shifted production to avoid supply-chain exclusion.
Given past blocks on transfers to Ukraine, Bern's decisions reflect legal precedent, with an interdepartmental expert group set to regularly review exports while a December 2025 law change remains subject to a mid-April referendum.