Vance says US, Iran to establish direct military channel with IRGC in Qatar

The United Arab Emirates also established new lines of communication with Iran, Vance said.

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

Vice President JD Vance said Thursday that the United States and Iran have agreed to establish a direct communication channel between U.S. military officers and Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in Doha, Qatar, as part of efforts to reduce the risk of further confrontation.

Speaking to the British outlet UnHerd, Vance said the arrangement would bring together representatives from the IRGC and U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) to address disputes directly.

“They said: ‘Fine, we’ll send someone from the Revolutionary Guards to sit in Doha with someone from U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), and that way we’ll resolve many of these disagreements,'” Vance said, describing discussions with Iranian officials.

Vance said the purpose of the channel is to lower the chances of future conflict.

He also said the United Arab Emirates has established new lines of communication with Iran that did not previously exist, including contacts with the Revolutionary Guards.

“The UAE is holding talks with the Iranians that have never taken place before, including with the Revolutionary Guards, regarding various types of economic incentives,” he said.

Separately, The Wall Street Journal reported that officials confirmed Iran attacked a merchant vessel flying the Singaporean flag in the Strait of Hormuz.

Meanwhile, the United States and Gulf states issued a joint statement following a ministerial meeting in Bahrain welcoming the memorandum of understanding between Washington and Tehran, as well as the mediation efforts of Pakistan and Qatar.

The statement said Iran must be prevented from obtaining nuclear weapons, called for Hezbollah to be disarmed, backed negotiations between Israel and Lebanon aimed at reaching a permanent peace agreement, and opposed any tolls or restrictions on freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.

“Achieving lasting peace and security in the region requires addressing all Iranian threats, including ballistic missiles, drones, and Iran’s support for proxy organizations,” the statement said.

The declaration also said a permanent agreement with Iran should address not only its nuclear program but also its ballistic missile and drone capabilities.

Earlier this week, Vance said progress had been made on the nuclear issue despite Iranian denials.

“The Iranians have agreed to invite the international inspectors into their country — this is a very important step,” he said.

Vance added that the groundwork had been laid for a final agreement with Iran and that technical talks would continue throughout the week.

“We expect the International Atomic Energy Agency to visit as early as this week, perhaps even today,” he said.

He also said the negotiations are developing a mechanism for Hezbollah’s disarmament while seeking to protect Israel’s security and Lebanon’s sovereignty simultaneously.