  Unconditional security in quantum key distribution (QKD) relies on
authenticating the identities of users involved in key distribution. While
classical identity authentication schemes were initially utilized in QKD
implementations, concerns regarding their vulnerability have prompted the
exploration of quantum identity authentication (QIA) protocols. In this study,
we introduce a new protocol for QIA, derived from the concept of controlled
secure direct quantum communication. Our proposed scheme facilitates
simultaneous authentication between two users, Alice and Bob, leveraging Bell
states with the assistance of a third party, Charlie. Through rigorous security
analysis, we demonstrate that the proposed protocol withstands various known
attacks, including impersonation, intercept and resend and impersonated
fraudulent attacks. Additionally, we establish the relevance of the proposed
protocol by comparing it with the existing protocols of similar type.
