On the 17th, U.S. President Trump stated that the U.S. side has secret communication channels with officials from Iran’s Revolutionary Guard and demanded that Iran raise the white flag in surrender. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard immediately refuted this, claiming Trump’s statement was a delusion.
On the 17th, Revolutionary Guard spokesman Mohibbi issued a statement saying that Revolutionary Guard officials have not engaged in dialogue with the U.S. through secret channels. “Trump’s lies are nothing more than hallucinations and nightmares born out of his despair and failure in war.”
Earlier that day, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Baghai also refuted U.S. media reports about the Revolutionary Guard contacting the U.S. side through informal channels at a routine press conference.
He emphasized that Iran’s decision-making bodies are more united than ever regarding their negotiation stance. This kind of media hype is a form of psychological warfare intended to create a false appearance of division within Iran’s decision-making leadership, exposing the sense of desperation on the U.S. side.
During an interview with Fox News Channel on the 17th, Trump said that although Iran appears confrontational in public, the private channels of communication between the U.S. and officials from Iran’s Revolutionary Guard remain open.