The whispers in the Lobby are turning into a roar. JD Vance, the American Vice President, is holed up in a Swiss resort. The topic? Iran’s nuclear programme. But the real story, the one that has Whitehall on edge, is the role of British intelligence.
Sources close to the Foreign Office tell me that MI6 officers were present. Not as observers. As participants. That is a significant escalation. The British government has so far maintained a public stance of cautious support for diplomatic engagement. But this goes beyond that. This is active facilitation.
Why the secrecy? The official line is that the location was chosen for neutrality. Switzerland, classic ground. But the upmarket setting feels off. This is not a secluded chalet. This is a five-star resort, a place where deals are done over single malts, not in sterile conference rooms. It sends a signal. A message of informality. Of deniability.
The timing is brutal. Only weeks ago, the US administration was pushing for maximum pressure on Iran. Now, Vance is talking. That smells of internal division. A split between the hawks and the pragmatists. The British establishment is caught in the middle. Traditionally, we align with the harder line. But the quiet voices in MI6 saw this coming. They have been advocating for a different approach. This might be their moment.
Labour backbenchers are restless. I have had three MPs contact me already. They want to know if Parliament was kept in the dark. The Foreign Secretary is due to face questions tomorrow. The atmosphere will be electric.
Downing Street is nervous. They dislike being seen as the junior partner, especially on intelligence matters. The Brexit-era slogan of "Global Britain" looks hollow if we are merely tagging along to US-led talks. This will fuel the growing sentiment that our sovereignty is eroding.
The bigger picture: Vance is positioning himself as a statesman. A peacemaker. That plays well domestically for him. But for the UK, it risks entanglement in a deal that might not hold. Iran has a history of brinkmanship. The mullahs know how to play this game.
What does British intelligence get out of it? Access. Influence. A seat at the table. But at what cost? If the talks collapse, we share the blame. If they succeed, the credit goes to Washington. It is a high-risk, low-reward gambit.
I am told the Prime Minister was briefed on Friday. Only a handful of people in the Cabinet knew. The Defence Secretary was not informed. Neither was the Home Secretary. That is a telling omission. It suggests a tight circle, a decision taken at the highest level, possibly bypassing the normal channels.
Expect leaks. Expect denials. And expect the story to dominate tomorrow's front pages. The game is shifting. And British intelligence is playing with fire.
