US, Iran establish military hotline to prevent clashes in Strait of Hormuz, prep for de-mining

WASHINGTON, DC: The Trump administration is setting up a direct military hotline with Iran aimed at preventing dangerous confrontations in the Strait of Hormuz, as international forces prepare a major effort to clear mines from one of the world's most critical shipping lanes.

The proposed channel between US Central Command and Tehran emerged from Sunday's US-Iran negotiations and is designed to let both sides quickly deconflict military activity and head off incidents that could spiral into broader conflict. Vice President JD Vance described the arrangement as Iran sending "somebody from the IRGC to go hang out in Doha with somebody from CENTCOM" in a Thursday report by UnHerd. "That's how we're going to settle a lot of these disputes," he added.

Hotline comes after fresh US strikes on Iran

On Friday, following a US military strike on Iran in retaliation for Tehran's attack on a cargo ship, Vance warned Iran to use the new channel going forward rather than resorting to force.

“Iran signed a ceasefire agreement. We have honored it. If they have disagreements about how the MOU is being applied, they can pick up the phone,” Vance said on X.

“But violence will be met with violence.”

While the vice president initially described a physical arrangement, regional sources familiar with the arrangement, as well as Iranian media, have said it would rather resemble a “hotline” between the two militaries that can be used to lodge complaints rather than lobbing missiles or drones.

IRGC spokesman Brig. Gen. Hossein Mohebbi went a step further, describing Vance’s claim as “an outright lie,” according to the IRGC-affiliated Fars News Agency.

“That’s how we’re going to settle a lot of these disputes,” Vance added.

A military-to-military communication channel between the two longtime adversaries would be unprecedented, marking a potential breakthrough after decades of hostility between Washington and Tehran.

Iran's state-run Press TV described the channel as a way to "prevent incidents in the Strait of Hormuz that might lead to military confrontation."

Hotline seen as key to upcoming de-mining operation

The idea of a hotline emerged from the talks in Switzerland and reflects growing concern that misunderstandings or overreactions by Tehran could threaten commercial shipping through the narrow waterway, which carries roughly a fifth of the world’s oil supply.

The channel, officials said, would serve two purposes: providing Iran with a direct channel to lodge complaints about military activity rather than retaliating against commercial vessels; and supporting a planned multinational effort to clear roughly 80 mines that remain in the strait, according to the United Nations' International Maritime Organization.

The US-Iran memorandum of understanding puts the onus on Iran to clear the mines it laid, but experts say Tehran lacks the technology to do so in a way that will reassure shippers.

“The best thing possible is for Iran to identify where they think they put the mine, and then for us to go clear it,” Foundation for Defending Democracies’ senior fellow, retired Rear Adm. Mark Montgomery told The Post.

European nations have also been preparing for the effort. The UK's Royal Navy said its RFA Lyme arrived in the region this week carrying autonomous and remotely operated systems along with roughly 270 British and French sailors to assist with de-mining once the conflict concludes. A European official told The Post the "multinational military mission is ready to act."

CENTCOM did not respond to a request for comment.