Iran's Revolutionary Guard denies direct communication channel with US on Strait of Hormuz

TEHRAN, Iran — Iran's Revolutionary Guard rejected reports that a direct communication channel had been established with Washington over the Strait of Hormuz, calling the claims entirely unfounded. In a written statement, the force said no such channel has been set up and none will be, asserting that the strategic waterway belongs to Iran and that the United States has no role in the matter. The denial comes after Iranian state television reported that the two countries had opened a direct line to prevent a possible military confrontation in the strait. According to that report, the step was taken under Article 5 of a memorandum of understanding signed between Iran and the United States in Islamabad. The Revolutionary Guard's statement did not address the earlier Iranian state media report or the Islamabad memorandum directly. Iranian state television Press TV had also said the channel was referenced in a joint outcome document issued by two mediators following talks held in Switzerland last week. The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow chokepoint between Iran and Oman, is one of the world's most critical oil shipping lanes. No further details on the diplomatic dispute between the two countries' official communications were immediately available.