Iran on June 26 denied establishing a direct communication channel between its military officials and the United States as part of a U.S.-proposed hotline to reduce tensions in the Strait of Hormuz. IRGC spokesman Hossein Mohebi dismissed reports of direct military contact, calling them false.
“The statements by U.S. officials about setting up a direct line between Iran and the U.S. regarding the Strait of Hormuz are completely untrue,” Mohebi wrote on X. “This has never happened and will not happen... The Strait of Hormuz is Iranian territory and has nothing to do with the U.S.”
Mohebi’s statement did not clarify whether Tehran rejects any direct military channel with Washington or whether a separate civilian-led channel might operate.
Earlier, U.S. Vice President JD Vance said after a meeting between Washington and Tehran officials in Switzerland that an “Iranian channel” to reduce conflict in the Persian Gulf would be established. He also implied that direct military communications between the two sides had been agreed upon.
“They (Iran) say, ‘OK, fine, we’ll send someone from the IRGC to Doha to meet someone from CENTCOM,’ and that’s how we’ll resolve many of these disputes,” Vance told British outlet UnHerd. The IRGC is designated by the U.S. government as a foreign terrorist organization.
Meanwhile, Iranian state broadcaster Press TV reported on June 25 that a communication line had been established between the two sides in the Strait of Hormuz following the conclusion of talks in Switzerland. The goal was “to help prevent incidents that could cause military escalation” and to implement provisions of Article 5 of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). Article 5 addresses resuming commercial maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz after major disruptions since the U.S.-Israel launched a military campaign against Iran on February 28.
Tensions escalated after the Singapore-flagged container ship Ever Lovely was hit by a projectile from an unidentified object on the night of June 25 while traveling on a route recommended by the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO). The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said on June 26 that military facilities on Iran’s southern coast were struck “as a strong response to the attack on the commercial vessel.” Bahrain also experienced drone attacks on the morning of June 27 following the U.S. strike.
Iran requires vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz to use a route designated by its armed forces—close to Iran’s coast—or risk being turned back or attacked. The IRGC opposes the maritime route coordinated between Oman and the International Maritime Organization (IMO) on grounds it was not consulted.
Vance warned Tehran that “violence will be met with violence” and urged Iran to “pick up the phone” if there are disagreements over applying the MoU. The UKMTO has raised the threat level in the Strait of Hormuz to “significant” after targeting of commercial vessels, but it remains unclear whether military confrontations will escalate again.
