"There have been no negotiations between officials of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the US side", General Hossein Mohammadi, IRGC spokesperson, said on 17/8.

He added that US President Donald Trump's claim that the two sides were directly negotiating through a secret channel was "a lie", emphasizing these were "illusions stemming from defeat and desperation in the conflict".

IRGC members at a military parade in Tehran in 9/2018. *AFP*

General Mohammadi affirmed that diplomatic activities are not within the scope of the IRGC's duties, noting that there are currently no negotiations because "the US has broken its commitments and repeatedly failed to keep its promises in the past".

The statement came hours after President Trump revealed that the US had established a direct and secret communication channel with the IRGC, but stated he was not in a hurry to reach an agreement. "They are good card players, but they are exhausted. I have no deadline. I'm not in a hurry. They had better raise the white flag of surrender", he said.

The 60-day deadline for peace talks between the US and Iran ended on 17/8 without any concrete plans announced to end the conflict.

Nevertheless, in a Truth Social post, Trump suggested that peace could still be achieved if Iran conceded to the US's primary demand. "The number one goal has always been that Iran cannot possess nuclear weapons in any form", he said.

Location of Iran and the Strait of Hormuz. *Guardian*

Thanh Tam (According to Al Jazeera, CNN, Fox News)