▲ Trump and Vance (right)
U.S. Vice President JD Vance, acting on instructions from President Donald Trump, has reached out to a hard-line Iranian security chief with a letter proposing the resumption of negotiations, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on October 28.
As President Trump has repeatedly signaled that he could launch a massive strike against Iran following next week's midterm elections, attention is focused on whether this outreach will lead to renewed talks.
Citing U.S. officials and sources, the WSJ reported that Vice President Vance sent a letter to Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council and a prominent hard-liner, and that the dispatch was made at President Trump's direction.
This marks another effort by President Trump—who has publicly messaged multiple times that a resumption of airstrikes against Iran is possible before long—to explore whether an agreement with Iran remains achievable.
President Trump has repeatedly made remarks along the lines of, "It is time to decide whether to make a deal or finish it."
The WSJ reported that Vice President Vance's letter does not contain a specific peace plan and focuses primarily on establishing a framework for negotiations.
Following the WSJ report, the U.S. political media outlet Axios also reported on the move, citing a U.S. official.
According to the reports, Vice President Vance emphasized in his letter to Secretary Rezaei that any negotiations to prevent renewed U.S. strikes "must include discussions on the nuclear issue."
Axios noted that the letter focuses on the possibility of resuming talks between the United States and Iran, marking the highest-level proposal sent by the U.S. to Iran in months.
A U.S. official said, "President Trump has a positive stance on this letter," while declining to comment on the exact timing of its delivery.
Axios added that Secretary Rezaei has a direct communication channel with Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, prompting Vice President Vance to propose him as the recipient of the letter.
Meeting with reporters on October 28, President Trump addressed the letter sent by Vice President Vance, claiming it was intended to send medical supplies to Iran while denying that it was a proposal for negotiations.
When asked whether he had instructed Vice President Vance to resume peace talks with Iran, President Trump answered, "No," though he acknowledged that he had approved Vice President Vance to probe for contact with Iran.
"They need help with medical supplies and various things. He asked me what I thought, and I said, 'If you want to do that, that's fine,'" President Trump said, adding, "Basically, it's helping people who are not in a good situation."
While Vice President Vance's outreach may have been aimed at managing the situation leading up to the upcoming midterm elections, it has drawn attention because the outcome could prompt President Trump to take a strike against Iran off the table.
However, the WSJ pointed out that if Secretary Rezaei steps to the forefront, figures who have served as Iranian delegation heads—such as Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi—could be sidelined in negotiations with the United States.
Secretary Rezaei met with high-ranking security officials from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey who visited the Iranian capital of Tehran on October 26.
Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey signed the Makkah Joint Defense Agreement last August.
The WSJ noted that previous visits were mostly conducted by diplomats, describing Secretary Rezaei's meeting with security officials from these nations as an unusual step.
The move could signal an effort by Secretary Rezaei to play a more prominent role in handling current issues.
Nevertheless, Secretary Rezaei drew a hard line on October 21, stating, "Not a single handful of enriched nuclear material will leave Iran," and insisting that Iran's demands must be met before negotiations with the U.S. can take place.
President Trump remains cautious that an escalation could further stoke already high oil prices ahead of the midterm elections.
Because of this, concerns have been raised that President Trump could launch a short-term, massive attack against Iran following the midterm elections to compel a change in its attitude.
(Photo: Getty Images)
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