Iran's IRGC rejects Trump's claim of backchannel talks

Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) on Monday rejected U.S. President Donald Trump's claim that there is a backchannel for talks between the United States and the IRGC.

In an interview with the semi-official Tasnim news agency, IRGC spokesperson Hossein Mohebbi called Trump's claim a "delusion," saying no dialogue is taking place between IRGC officials and the Americans.

Even Iran's diplomatic apparatus is not currently negotiating with the United States owing to American's "breach of promises," Mohebbi added.

Separately, at Monday's press conference, Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei denied media reports of unofficial contact between the U.S. and the IRGC via Iraqi Kurdistan officials and an alleged secret U.S.-Iran meeting in Erbil.

The reports are "media techniques and psychological operations used to sow discord among Iran's decision-making bodies," Baghaei said.

Trump told Fox News earlier Monday that his administration maintains a direct backchannel with Iran's IRGC officials, saying that he is "not in a hurry" to resolve the Iran issue and has set no new deadline for Tehran.

Separately, Trump posted on social media the same day that the U.S.'s top priority is -- and will always be -- ensuring that Iran does not possess nuclear weapons "in any way, shape or form."

Emergency humanitarian relief supplies provided by the Chinese government to earthquake-stricken Colombia departed Beijing in the early hours of Tuesday.

The supplies, totaling approximately 80 tonnes, mainly include generators, water purification trucks, disinfection units, solar-powered lighting equipment, tents and blankets. They are scheduled to arrive in Bogota, the Colombian capital, around midday Tuesday local time.

A magnitude-7.4 earthquake struck Colombia on August 10, causing heavy casualties and extensive property damage.

The Chinese government has been closely following the situation and promptly decided to provide emergency cash assistance and humanitarian earthquake relief supplies to support Colombia's disaster response and post-disaster reconstruction efforts.