US and Iran Reverse Crisis Through Secret Messages via Swiss Embassy

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] Reports have emerged that Iran sent a secret message to the United States immediately after attacking the US military base stationed in Iraq with missiles, indicating that there would be no further retaliation.

The New York Times (NYT) on the 12th (local time) reported on the dramatic de-escalation of tensions between the US and Iran following the killing of Qasem Soleimani. The NYT introduced that although Iran attacked the US military base, it promptly conveyed its intention that there would be no additional attacks, preventing further escalation between the two countries.

According to the NYT, after Iran's retaliatory missile attack on the US military base, an encrypted fax was sent to the US from the Swiss Embassy in Iran. The fax stated that Iran's attack was retaliation for the elimination of Soleimani and that it would end there. The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) also reported the same content, citing anonymous officials.

The Swiss Embassy in Iran sent this message to the Swiss Embassy in the US and Brian Hook, the US State Department's Special Representative for Iran, just two minutes after receiving it from Iran. Within five minutes, President Donald Trump had the message from Iran in his hands.

Earlier, on the 3rd, immediately after the killing of Soleimani, the US had sent a message to Iran through the Swiss Embassy in Iran warning of possible Iranian retaliation that could trigger further US attacks. The Swiss Embassy in Iran has served as the US Interests Section for nearly 40 years since 1980.

However, the US side did not disclose that Iran had sent such a message. In his national address on the 8th, President Trump did not mention the secret message from Iran but said, "It seems Iran is backing down," and announced a policy of economic sanctions instead of military operations.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.