Vance Says U.S. and Iran Will Open Direct Channel as Reports Emerge of Gulf Shipping Attack

U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance said on Thursday that U.S. Central Command will meet with Iranian Revolutionary Guard officials as part of a direct communications channel meant to reduce the risk of renewed escalation. Speaking after the summit in Switzerland in an interview with the British outlet UnHerd, Vance said Washington and Tehran had agreed to set up the channel, and that military officials from both sides would meet in Doha, Qatar, to settle disputes and ease tensions.

Vance said the arrangement came after talks with Iranian officials, quoting them as saying, “Okay, we’ll send someone from the Revolutionary Guards to stay in Doha with someone from U.S. Central Command, and that will solve many of these disputes.” He also said the United Arab Emirates had opened new communication channels with Iran, including discussions with the Revolutionary Guards about economic incentives.

At the same time, the Wall Street Journal, citing two U.S. officials, reported that Iran attacked a Singapore-flagged cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday. The attack, which British maritime monitoring group UKMTO said damaged the ship’s bridge but caused no injuries, took place near Oman’s coast hours after the Revolutionary Guards’ navy warned ships not to use Iranian-unapproved routes in the strait. The International Maritime Organization had said on Tuesday it was coordinating an evacuation route for hundreds of ships still stranded in the Persian Gulf, working with Iran, Oman, other regional states and the United States, but suspended the operation hours after the attack.

Separately, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is traveling through Gulf states without visiting Israel, met in Bahrain with foreign ministers from the Gulf Cooperation Council. In a joint statement, the parties backed an expanded strategic partnership and coordination on regional and international issues, called for the full disarmament of all non-state groups in Lebanon, reaffirmed support for Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and welcomed U.S.-brokered talks between Israel and Lebanon. The statement also stressed that Iran must not develop nuclear weapons, urged reopening the Strait of Hormuz and protecting freedom of navigation, criticized Iran-backed Iraqi groups, and said no one should be forced to leave Gaza and anyone who leaves must be allowed to return.