US Secret Channel to Iran's IRGC Reveals Tehran's True Power Broker

In a revelation that underscores the complex dynamics of the Middle East conflict, the White House established a secret backchannel with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), learning that the elite force stands firmly behind Tehran's negotiators. The report, published Sunday by Axios, confirms what Jerusalem has long asserted: the IRGC is the true power behind Iran's leadership.

How did the US establish contact with the IRGC?

According to Axios, citing three unnamed sources, US officials feared that talks with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf could be undermined by the IRGC. In May, three months into the US-Israeli campaign against Iran, then-director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard reached out to Nechirvan Barzani, president of the Kurdistan region in Iraq, who maintains close ties with the Revolutionary Guards.

Barzani arranged a phone call with IRGC commander Gen. Ahmad Vahidi, who delivered a clear message:

“I fully support them and this is also the position of the IRGC. We prefer to solve this crisis through negotiations.”

The message was quickly relayed to the White House.

Why did direct US-Iran talks in Erbil fail to materialize?

The Trump administration sought to expand Barzani's role by having him host direct talks in Erbil, but the Iranians declined, fearing their representatives would be targeted by Israel, which maintains a strong intelligence presence in Kurdistan. The meeting never took place, though Iranian and US officials did attend a summit the following month, signing a framework for peace talks that have since collapsed.

What is the current state of US-Iran negotiations?

Iran and the United States have traded fire sporadically, with fighting centered in southern Iran and around the strategic Strait of Hormuz. President Donald Trump has said he would “low key” the negotiations, focusing instead on ramping up economic pressure on Tehran. Iran declared last week that no talks are currently underway, though it remains in contact with mediators Qatar and Pakistan. Barzani has recently signaled to the White House that he could attempt to restart direct talks.

Top US general tours Middle East amid carrier concerns

Adm. Brad Cooper, the top US military commander in the Middle East, visited the USS Lincoln aircraft carrier in the Arabian Sea during a 10-day tour that concluded Saturday. The carrier, deployed since January, has supported the US war against Iran, including the blockade on Iranian ports, and has set a record with more than 240 uninterrupted days at sea. Reports have emerged of mental health and supply issues aboard the vessel, which can carry over 5,000 sailors and Marines.

“History will record this deployment as one of the most operationally intense and consequential of the modern era,” Cooper said. His tour also included visits to Bahrain, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.

Iran offers $30,000 bounty for killing US soldiers

In a disturbing development, Iran's military announced a bounty equivalent to $30,000 for killing or capturing US soldiers, with the reward doubled if carried out by a woman. Army chief Amir Hatami said the plan followed “the large number of requests” to participate in financial support, according to IRNA state news agency.

“Anyone who kills or captures and hands over an invading American military personnel will receive a reward equivalent to $30,000 or 5 billion tomans from the Islamic Republic of Iran's Army,” Hatami said. “Courageous Iranian women who carry out such an action will receive double the reward.”

There has been no known deployment of US ground forces in Iran, except for a rescue mission in April for a downed American pilot. This bounty reflects the regime's desperation as it faces mounting pressure from the US-led coalition and Israel's unwavering resolve.

For Israel, these revelations confirm that the IRGC, designated as a terrorist organization by the US, remains the dominant force in Tehran's decision-making. As the Jewish state continues to defend its security and sovereignty, the international community must recognize that true peace in the region requires confronting the Revolutionary Guards' malign influence, not accommodating it.