US Media: White House Says US-Iran Military Channels Have Been Opened and Are Now in Use
¬ White House: US Has Spent Approximately $30 Billion on Strikes Against Iran
¬ Qatari Foreign Ministry: US Confirms Willingness to Continue Talks with Iran
¬ Tensions in the Middle East Ease, UAE Cargo Transport Resumes Traditional Route via Iran
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According to a senior anonymous White House official cited by Western media, the crisis management communication channel between Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the U.S. Central Command has been activated and is currently being used by both sides.
On Tuesday, Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ismail Baghai stated that political communication channels had been established between Iran and the United States following talks in Switzerland, but no military communication channels yet existed between the two nations.
The report states: “To ease tensions, the United States has taken measures to establish a crisis management communication channel between Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and the U.S. Central Command… A White House official said this de-escalation channel has been opened and both sides are actively using it.”
On June 21, Iran and the United States held negotiations in Bregenz, Switzerland, with Pakistan and Qatar serving as mediators. On the morning of June 22, the Iranian delegation departed Switzerland for Tehran. Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ismail Baghai announced progress had been made during the talks in Switzerland.
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Russell Vought, Director of the Office of Management and Budget, stated that the United States has already spent approximately $30 billion on military operations targeting Iran.
In May, the acting inspector general of the U.S. Department of Defense, Jules Hirst, noted that U.S. spending on military actions against Iran had approached $29 billion.
Vought told Congress during a hearing: “We have already spent about $30 billion.”
Previously, the Trump administration had requested an additional $87.6 billion in funding from Congress, including funds related to operations against Iran.
On the evening of June 18, Iran and the United States signed a memorandum remotely, aimed at ending the military conflict that began on February 28. The memorandum also set a timeline for the U.S. lifting its maritime blockade and Iran restoring shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
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International freight forwarder GTL disclosed to Sputnik News that, as tensions in the Middle East have eased, cargo transportation for imports and exports involving the UAE is returning to traditional routes passing through Iran.
The company said: “With the easing of regional tensions, cargo transport to and from the UAE is reverting to normal patterns. The transit corridor through Iran has resumed regular operation, which will shorten delivery times and reduce logistics costs.”
GTL emphasized that, for freight transport between Russia and the UAE, the route through Iran has always been one of the fastest and most cost-effective options. This advantage is especially evident given the severe congestion at the Novorossiysk port.
The company recalled that earlier this year, control measures around the Strait of Hormuz disrupted operations at Iranian ports along the Persian Gulf, forcing most cargo to reroute through Saudi Arabian and Omani ports—leading to rapid price surges due to overloading on these alternative routes.
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The Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that U.S. representatives Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner held talks in Doha with Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani.
During the meeting, the U.S. reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to continuing efforts to advance negotiations with Iran.
After the talks, Qatar’s Foreign Ministry shared on social media platform X that both sides exchanged views on the latest developments within the framework of the memorandum of understanding between the U.S. and Iran, and discussed initiatives to promote regional security and stability. The U.S. representatives confirmed continued support for diplomatic efforts aimed at achieving a comprehensive agreement on Iran’s nuclear program.
During the discussion, both parties exchanged views on the current regional situation, particularly focusing on the ceasefire in Lebanon.
Following the meeting, the Qatari Foreign Ministry stated that Qatar would continue playing a mediating role, providing support for dialogue among all parties under the memorandum framework, striving to achieve a comprehensive and sustainable solution to strengthen regional security and stability.
Earlier, Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ismail Baghai revealed that the Iranian delegation might hold talks with Qatar—the mediator in U.S.-Iran dialogue—on July 1 regarding the implementation of the memorandum.
Iran and the United States remotely signed a memorandum of understanding on the early hours of June 18. The document aims to end the military conflict that erupted on February 28 and specifies the timelines for the U.S. lifting its maritime blockade and Iran resuming navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
Since the signing of the memorandum, no face-to-face meetings have taken place between the U.S. and Iran. The negotiation process faced potential collapse due to a series of attacks on merchant vessels in the Strait of Hormuz and new U.S. strikes against targets inside Iran.
Additionally, Iran committed not to develop nuclear weapons, with disputes related to its nuclear program to be addressed separately through another agreement. Both sides plan to initiate negotiations within 60 days on this issue. Iran hopes to eventually achieve a full lifting of U.S. sanctions.
Source: sputniknews
Original: toutiao.com/article/1869473828175872/
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