US Establishes Direct Channel with Iran's Revolutionary Guard via CENTCOM in Doha

US Vice President JD Vance revealed that peace talks with Iran held in Switzerland resulted in the establishment of a direct communication channel with the Iranian side, aimed at de-escalating tensions and resolving outstanding disputes between Washington and Tehran.

During an interview with the British conservative website UnHerd, conducted while returning from Switzerland and published on Thursday, Vance explained that a primary objective of the negotiations was to agree on an "Iranian-side channel" to help manage conflicts and prevent their escalation into new confrontations.

He added that the Iranians consented to dispatch a representative from the Revolutionary Guard to Doha to meet with a US Central Command (CENTCOM) official, utilizing this mechanism to address several contentious issues between the two parties.

Vance described this understanding as one of the tangible gains from the Switzerland round, considering that the success of the new communication channel could assist in containing tensions and establishing a more regular path for handling crises.

These remarks come as Washington and Tehran continue negotiations within the sixty-day timeframe stipulated by the memorandum of understanding signed by both sides, amid clear differences in the American and Iranian narratives regarding key issues. These include the nuclear program, frozen Iranian assets, navigation arrangements in the Strait of Hormuz, and mechanisms for implementing any final agreement.

Following the initial round at the Swiss resort of Burgstock, the parties moved to prepare for technical negotiations scheduled to resume in late June. Tehran announced the formation of four working groups to discuss sanctions relief, the nuclear file, reconstruction and economic development, and monitoring and implementation mechanisms.

Meanwhile, the administration of President Donald Trump emphasizes that any final agreement with Iran must be verifiable and must not compromise regional security or freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.

Tehran insists that sensitive issues, including navigation in Hormuz, the use of released assets, and the future of the nuclear program, will only be resolved within a comprehensive agreement. It also maintains that the Lebanese file remains part of broader understandings being worked on in upcoming negotiation rounds.