A report reveals the United States established a secret communication channel with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) earlier this year. Former intelligence chief Tulsi Gabbard reportedly initiated contact with a top Iraqi Kurdish official in May to determine the IRGC’s position regarding Iran’s negotiators in ongoing nuclear talks. The goal was to understand whether the IRGC, a powerful hardline faction, would undermine or support a potential agreement. Information gleaned from this backchannel indicated the IRGC was, in fact, supportive of Iran’s negotiating team. This disclosure comes amid stalled negotiations and heightened tensions between the US and Iran. Separately, reports also surfaced of Iran placing a $30,000 bounty on US soldiers.