IRGC Appears to Rebuff US Proposal for Strait of Hormuz Hotline

US-Iran Military Hotline Proposal Rejected by Iran’s IRGC

Tehran, Iran - Iranian officials have denied reports of a direct military hotline being established between the US and Iran as part of a proposed communication channel aimed at reducing tensions in the Strait of Hormuz. According to Hossein Mohebi, spokesman for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), claims by American officials regarding the establishment of such a line are “completely false”.

Mohebi stated that the Strait of Hormuz is Iranian territory and has no connection to the United States. The IRGC’s stance on this matter was made public through an X post, which did not provide further details on whether Tehran would accept direct military-to-military contact with Washington or if a separate channel led by civilian officials would operate.

In contrast, US Vice President JD Vance stated that a “channel on the Iranian side” for reducing conflict in the Gulf had been agreed upon. He also mentioned that direct military-to-military communications had already been established between the two sides.

The proposed communication line was aimed at preventing incidents that could trigger military escalation and implementing provisions of an agreement signed by Iran and the US on June 17. However, tensions escalated further after a commercial vessel sailing outside a designated channel in the Strait of Hormuz was targeted by unknown perpetrators.

Iranian state-run broadcaster Press TV reported that a communication line had been established between the two sides following talks in Switzerland. The goal was to “help prevent incidents that could trigger military escalation” and implement provisions of Article 5 of the agreement.

The Singapore-flagged container ship, Ever Lovely, was hit by an unknown projectile late Thursday as it navigated through the Strait of Hormuz recommended by the UKMTO. US Central Command stated that military facilities on Iran’s southern coastline were targeted in response to yesterday’s attack on a commercial ship.

Bahrain faced drone strikes on Saturday morning after the US attack, marking the first exchange of fire between the two countries since the agreement was signed.

Source: Al Jazeera