Iran Agrees to Perform Search & Rescue: ISTANBUL, Oct. 17 -- Iran, long considered one of the United States' most intractable foes, has agreed to perform search-and-rescue missions for U.S. pilots who crash on its territory during the military campaign against Afghanistan, Secretary of State Colin L. Powell said today. The agreement, which reportedly was negotiated with the help of Swiss intermediaries, could be an important confidence-building step in repairing relations between the United States and Iran, which have not had diplomatic ties since the 1979 Iranian Revolution. U.S. interests in Tehran are represented by the Swiss government.