IRGC: No rift between Iran’s diplomatic, military establishments

• The IRGC says Iran’s diplomatic and military establishments remain coordinated as Tehran continues negotiations over the conflict and the Strait of Hormuz.
• The force claims military confrontations are taking place daily in Hormuz and says Iranian forces are targeting small vessels attempting to cross the waterway. The claims have not been independently verified. 

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said Wednesday there is no disagreement between the country’s diplomatic establishment and armed forces, saying the two sides remain closely coordinated amid the ongoing conflict and diplomatic efforts.

IRGC spokesman Brig. Gen. Hossein Mohebbi said Iran remains in a state of war and warned that “anything is possible” under the current circumstances.

He said Iran’s adversaries had recognized the country’s military capabilities and the Iranian people’s determination to withstand pressure.

Read more: IRGC: Strait of Hormuz sees military confrontations every 24 hours

Mohebbi said major decisions are made through Iran’s Supreme National Security Council and that decisions adopted by the council require approval from Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei before they can be implemented.

He also rejected reports of a dispute between Iran’s military and diplomatic establishments, saying there is coordination between the armed forces and diplomatic officials.

The comments come as Tehran continues indirect diplomatic contacts with Washington over proposals involving the Strait of Hormuz and the broader conflict. Iran said Wednesday it had received an official US response to its latest proposal, although the contents of Washington’s response have not been publicly disclosed.

Mohebbi said the Strait of Hormuz is witnessing military confrontations every 24 hours. He claimed Iranian forces are targeting small vessels attempting to cross the waterway and said the United States has not responded to the attacks for some time.

The claims have not been independently verified. The US government has separately warned that Iran continues to threaten and conduct attacks against commercial vessels in the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz and Gulf of Oman. A US maritime advisory said risks to commercial shipping remain high.

The IRGC has also maintained that the Strait of Hormuz remains closed, while Washington has disputed that characterization and said commercial shipping can move through the waterway with US protection.

The latest remarks come amid efforts by regional mediators to bridge differences between Washington and Tehran over the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran’s latest proposal reportedly links reopening the waterway to measures including the lifting of the US naval blockade and easing restrictions on Iranian oil exports. President Donald Trump has rejected Tehran’s terms, while Iranian officials say negotiations remain possible.

The Strait of Hormuz is a major global energy route, and continued military activity and uncertainty over commercial shipping have raised concerns over oil supplies, shipping costs and regional security.