WASHINGTON, July 11 — The quiet, often secret channels of communication between the United States and Iran have a long and complicated history, one that stretches back to the 1980s and the Iran-Contra affair. In that period from 1985 to 1986, the U.S. secretly sold arms to Iran in an effort to secure the release of hostages. This pattern of backchannel diplomacy has resurfaced repeatedly, most recently in a reported exchange this past April.
According to a report from April 16, 2025, Iran privately communicated to advisers of President Donald Trump that a shooting in the Strait of Hormuz was a mistake. This message was delivered not through official diplomatic channels, but through the kind of informal backchannel that has been used for decades.
The incident fits a well-established pattern where both nations find ways to talk without the glare of public posturing.
A History of Secret Talks
The most significant example of successful backchannel diplomacy came in 2013. Secret talks in Oman led to the interim nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Plan of Action, which was signed on November 24, 2013. That agreement froze Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for limited sanctions relief.
The talks involved U.S. and Iranian diplomats meeting in Muscat, Oman. These discussions paved the way for the more comprehensive 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA, which was also facilitated by backchannel conversations.
The 2015 deal was a landmark agreement that placed strict limits on Iran’s nuclear activities in return for the lifting of most international sanctions. The use of such channels is not new. They allow both sides to communicate without the pressure of public posturing, which can often derail sensitive negotiations.
However, these informal lines of communication can also create confusion about official policy, as different actors may send mixed signals.
Who Talks and How
The people involved in these backchannels are not always official diplomats. The source material notes that such channels often involve former officials, academics, or intermediaries. These individuals can carry messages between the two governments without the formality of direct, public engagement.
This method of communication has a clear benefit: it allows for candid discussions that might be impossible in a public forum. But it also carries risks.
When a message is delivered through an unofficial channel, it can be unclear whether it represents the actual policy of the government or the personal view of the intermediary. The April 2025 report of Iran telling Trump advisers that the Strait of Hormuz shooting was a mistake follows this long-standing pattern. It suggests that even in moments of tension, both sides are willing to use these quiet channels to clarify intentions and prevent escalation.
What This Means Going Forward
As of July 11, 2026, the relationship between the United States and Iran remains complex. The use of backchannels continues to be a tool for communication, even as official diplomatic relations remain strained. The history of these secret talks shows that they can be effective in achieving breakthroughs, as seen with the 2013 interim deal.
But they also carry the potential for misunderstanding. The key question for observers is whether these informal channels will lead to a new understanding, or whether they will simply add another layer of complexity to an already difficult relationship.
For now, the pattern holds: when official diplomacy stalls, the backchannels remain open. The April 2025 incident in the Strait of Hormuz is just the latest example of this enduring, if unofficial, tradition.
