The US and Iran may not have diplomatic relations, but they do have a secret channel of communication that they use to avoid escalating tensions and prevent misunderstandings. This channel is known as the Swiss back channel, and it involves the Swiss embassy in Tehran, which acts as a mediator between the two countries.
On January 23, 2024, the US used this channel to send a secret message to Iran, warning them of an imminent terror attack on their nuclear facilities by a rogue group of militants. The message did not specify the source or the details of the threat, but it urged Iran to take precautions and increase security measures.
A Suspicious Drone
Iran received the message and took it seriously, as they had been the target of several attacks and assassinations in the past, some of which were attributed to Israel or the US . Iran mobilized its forces and deployed its air defense systems around its nuclear sites, especially the Natanz facility, which is the most sensitive and secretive one.
On January 25, 2024, Iran detected a suspicious drone flying near the Natanz facility, and shot it down with a surface-to-air missile. The drone was not a typical military or commercial drone, but a quadcopter that looked like a toy or a hobby device. However, upon closer inspection, Iran discovered that the drone was carrying a small explosive device and a camera.
Keep Reading
A Foiled Plot
Iran realized that the drone was part of a foiled plot to attack the Natanz facility, and that the US had warned them of it in advance. Iran claimed that the drone was sent by a terrorist group that was supported by Israel and some Arab countries, and that it had evidence to prove it. Iran also thanked the US for its timely warning, and said that it was a sign of goodwill and cooperation.
The US confirmed that it had sent the warning to Iran, but did not comment on the identity or the motive of the attackers. The US said that it was acting in the interest of regional stability and nuclear non-proliferation. The US also expressed its hope that Iran would return to the nuclear deal that was signed in 2015, but abandoned by the former US administration in 2018.
The Implications: A New Era of Dialogue or a False Hope?
The incident of the drone attack and the US warning has raised many questions and speculations about the state of the relations between the US and Iran, and the future of the nuclear deal. Some analysts see it as a positive step towards a new era of dialogue and diplomacy, and a possible
breakthrough in the long-standing impasse. Others view it as a false hope and a diversion from the real issues and challenges, and a possible trap for Iran to compromise its sovereignty and security.
Whatever the case may be, the incident has shown that the US and Iran have a common interest in preventing a nuclear catastrophe, and that they have a secret channel to communicate and coordinate. Whether this channel will lead to a lasting peace or a temporary truce remains to be seen.
