Swiss intelligence sources have confirmed that US Senator JD Vance was seen entering the Chedi Andermatt, a luxury resort in the Swiss Alps, on Tuesday evening. The meeting, which involved Iranian diplomats and an unidentified individual described as a 'backchannel operative', lasted over four hours. No official record of the meeting exists in US or Swiss diplomatic logs.
A source with direct knowledge of the hotel's booking system told this paper that Vance's itinerary was classified, but a coded reservation under a shell company linked to a Swiss trading firm raised red flags. The same firm, sources say, has previously facilitated oil payments bypassing US sanctions on Tehran.
The UK Foreign Office, alerted by Swiss federal police, is now seeking clarification from Washington. A spokesperson said: 'We are aware of reports and are in contact with our US counterparts. We have no further comment at this time.' But my sources indicate that British diplomats are privately furious. One described the potential breach of diplomatic protocol as 'extraordinary' and warned that any unilateral discussions with Iran concerning the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) or its successor would be 'unwelcome'.
Vance's office has not returned calls. The US State Department declined to comment, referring inquiries to the Senate Ethics Committee. A committee aide said they had 'no knowledge of any such meeting'.
Documents obtained by this newsroom show that Vance made a flurry of calls to Swiss numbers in the 48 hours before his departure from Washington. One number, traced to a Zurich-based consultancy, was used to coordinate a 'private meeting with influential parties in the region' according to a memo from the consultancy's lawyer.
This is not the first time Vance's foreign entanglements have raised eyebrows. In December, he co-authored an op-ed questioning the effectiveness of sanctions on Iran. Now, with this Swiss rendezvous, the line between policy advocacy and unauthorised diplomacy appears blurred.
What was discussed? Sources close to the Iranian delegation suggest the topics included 'humanitarian relief' and 'possible prisoner swaps'. But a Swiss analyst familiar with the meeting's logistics told me: 'This was not about goodwill. This was about money. And power.'
The UK Foreign Office's request for clarification may be just the beginning. If the meeting is confirmed, Vance could face questions about violating the Logan Act, which prohibits private citizens from negotiating with foreign governments in disputes with the US. A Justice Department source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said: 'We are aware of the reports and will review them.'
For now, the Chedi Andermatt's ski slopes are quiet. But the fallout from this secret summit could shake more than snow from the Alps.
