Trump reveals who he's talking to behind the scenes as Iran ceasefire deadline nears

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump has confirmed that the United States is communicating through a backchannel with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), revealing a previously reported diplomatic channel as a 60-day window for reaching a deal with Tehran expiring Monday.

At the same time, Trump said he was “not in a hurry” to reach an agreement and demanded that Iran effectively surrender.

In a phone interview with Fox News, Trump confirmed that US officials had been communicating directly with IRGC officials, saying the group was involved in discussions over the conflict.

His comments came after Axios reported that the administration had sought a secret channel with the powerful Iranian military organization after US negotiators struggled to determine whether Iran’s formal representatives could speak for the IRGC.

Trump reveals unusual Iran backchannel

Trump said the United States was communicating with IRGC officials while maintaining that Iran must ultimately accept his central demand: that it cannot obtain a nuclear weapon.

“They’re good poker players, but they’re dying,” Trump said, referring to the IRGC.

The backchannel reportedly involved Nechirvan Barzani, president of Iraq’s Kurdistan region, who was used as an intermediary because of his relationships with both American and Iranian officials.

The effort emerged after Iran’s leadership was significantly disrupted during the conflict, increasing uncertainty over who could negotiate on behalf of Tehran.

Trump’s confirmation comes as formal negotiations remain stalled. Earlier reports said mediators had struggled to make progress despite continuing efforts to reopen diplomatic contacts.

Ceasefire window closes without deal

The 60-day period established under a June memorandum of understanding is expiring Monday without a final agreement. The arrangement had been intended to halt hostilities, address Iran’s nuclear program and facilitate discussions over the Strait of Hormuz.

Despite the deadline, Trump said he had no fixed timetable for reaching an agreement.

“I have no time schedule. I’m not in a hurry,” he told Fox News.

Trump also rejected the idea that November’s midterm elections were influencing his approach to the conflict, saying “Midterms have nothing to do with my thinking.”

His comments came as Iran warned that the United States could face further escalation if Washington does not implement the interim agreement. Tehran has also demanded changes involving the Strait of Hormuz and the US military presence in the region.

Trump, meanwhile, reiterated that preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon remains his primary objective, leaving the next phase of the conflict dependent on whether the backchannel can produce movement where formal negotiations have stalled.