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When Iran and the United States trade public warnings, reports of quiet messages or intermediaries often surface alongside them. These private contacts can seem contradictory: why talk discreetly while taking a hard line in public?
What can backchannels realistically accomplish—clarifying intentions, passing a warning, or arranging a first step toward talks? I’m curious how governments choose an intermediary they both consider credible, and what risks arise if a private message is misunderstood or leaked.
