Washington and Tehran do not maintain diplomatic relations, but the two enemy capitals can continue to speak to each other thanks to the good offices of Switzerland. In moments of greatest tension, the role of the Swiss Confederation is particularly valuable.
There was a series of direct communications relayed by Switzerland before the unprecedented attack of several hundred drones and missiles from Iran against Israel. The head of the Iranian armed forces warned the United States that if it cooperates with Israel in its possible next actions, its bases will not be safe. The Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) for its part indicated to AFP on Monday that it “does not comment on activities linked to its mandates as a protecting power” The FDFA has represented American interests in Iran since the hostage-taking at the U.S. embassy in Tehran in 1980, points out the FDFA on its website. It has helped on several occasions in the context of prisoner exchanges between Iran and the United. States. Iran's interests in the United states are represented by Pakistan.