Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has rejected US President Donald Trump’s claim that Washington has a backchannel for talks with the Iranian force.
IRGC spokesperson Hossein Mohebbi described the claim as a “delusion” and said there is no dialogue between IRGC officials and the United States.
Mr. Mohebbi also said Iran’s diplomatic apparatus is not currently engaged in negotiations with Washington, citing what he called the US breach of its promises.
Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei has also denied reports of unofficial contacts between the United States and the IRGC through officials in Iraq’s Kurdistan region.
He also rejected reports of an alleged secret US-Iran meeting in Erbil. Mr. Baghaei said such reports were part of media techniques and psychological operations aimed at creating divisions among Iran’s decision-making bodies.
The developments come as President Trump has urged Iran to raise the “white flag of surrender” as a 60-day ceasefire understanding expired last night. However, he has indicated that Washington is in no hurry to set a deadline for Tehran.
In an interview, Mr. Trump said US naval pressure on Iran would continue. He has also issued a strong warning to Oman over its parallel talks with Tehran regarding control of the strategically important Strait of Hormuz.