Swiss Protecting Power Channel
mechanismNations & Geopolitics · Crypto & Digital ID
The US and Iran have no embassies with each other, so their most dangerous ultimatums pass through a secure fax machine in a sealed Swiss room.
Who they are
The Swiss 'protecting power' channel — Switzerland acting as the official go-between for US interests in Iran since 1980.
What they do
It's the confidential back-channel that lets Washington and Tehran talk directly when they officially can't.
How it works
Inside the Swiss Embassy in Tehran there's an encrypted fax machine in a sealed room used for time-sensitive messages; senior US officials confirmed they used this Swiss channel to communicate with Iran right before the Iranian strikes in April 2024, with named Swiss diplomats (Ambassador Olivieri Lozano, State Secretary Fasel) running it.
Why it matters
It's how two enemies quietly manage how far a crisis is allowed to escalate without a full-blown war.
The engine's record — word for word
Switzerland serves as official protecting power for US interests in Iran since 1980. Ambassador Nadine Olivieri Lozano, State Secretary Alexandre Fasel. Secure encrypted fax machine inside sealed room in Swiss Embassy Tehran for direct time-sensitive ultimatums. Senior Biden officials confirmed direct communications through Swiss channel prior to Iranian strikes April 2024. The cryptographic router for choreographing escalation limits.
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