There is a direct back-channel communication between Washington and IRGC officials in Tehran.

Posted by The Gerry Callahan Show, Aug 17, 2026Checked Nov 2, 2026

Polygraph verdictMixed

Sources: 5 contradict4 support2 context
Said: 1 time·
Confidence: 50%

The Gerry Callahan ShowAug 17, 2026

As of 2026-08-17, Axios-sourced reporting (carried by Reuters and others) and Trump's own Fox News confirmation support the existence of a back channel with IRGC officials, though it ran through Iraqi Kurdistan intermediaries rather than purely direct contact.

A detail. The sources confirm the gist; the verdict faults a detail such as a date, number or wording.

This claim is about the present, so it is judged as of the day it was checked.

What was said

… The president told Fox News that Iran should put up the white flag of surrender, and he went on to say, I have no time schedule. I'm not in a hurry. The president talking broadly about the back channel negotiations that are taking place and confirming to FOX that there is a back channel directly between Washington and top IRGC officials in Tehran, the first public confirmation of such a channel. And this is critical because it comes as these conversations go back and forth. The president says they're good players, but they're dying, and that the midterms have nothing to do with my thinking. Whoa. …

The Gerry Callahan Show · Aug 17, 2026· from the transcriptPost →

What we found

Contradicts. IRGC spokesperson Hossein Mohebbi called Trump's claims a 'delusion' and 'lies', saying no talks are taking place between IRGC officials and Americans.[2][3]

Contradicts. On Tuesday Trump posted that 'there are no talks or conversations going on, or scheduled' with Iran, and Iranian Foreign Ministry denied the Erbil meeting reports as fabricated.[4][5][6]

Supports. Reuters reports, citing Axios with two sources, that Gabbard reached IRGC commander Ahmad Vahidi through an Iraqi Kurdish intermediary, and that Trump confirmed the back channel to Fox News.[1]

Supports. Multiple outlets describe a covert channel opened in mid-May 2026 via Nechirvan Barzani, with Trump saying 'We are speaking directly with IRGC officials in Iran' on Monday.[3][7][8][9]

Context. The channel is described as running through an intermediary (Barzani or Gabbard's contact) rather than purely direct, and reporting on the details rests largely on one Axios report repeated across outlets.[10][11]