Sept 3, 2026 White House press briefing, FILE PHOTO. Photo: Emily J. Higgins / White House. Not a current Iran-talks photo.
WASHINGTON – Vice President JD Vance is considering direct talks with Iranian security chief Mohsen Rezaei as President Donald Trump gives him a leading role in efforts to negotiate an end to the war, according to a report. The discussions remain preliminary, and no meeting date has been set.
The report Wednesday cited U.S. and Middle Eastern officials and people familiar with the discussions. It said Trump had authorized Vance to lead renewed diplomatic efforts with Tehran.
Vance sent Rezaei a letter in October requesting a meeting, according to the report. Rezaei confirmed receiving the letter but said he did not respond. Contacts have continued through intermediaries, with Doha under consideration as a possible venue if the two sides agree to meet.
Major differences remain
Iran is demanding that Washington lift its naval blockade, release frozen Iranian assets and ease oil restrictions before formal negotiations resume, the report said. Those demands remain obstacles to any agreement.
Regional mediators have discussed confidence-building measures, including moving U.S. aircraft carriers farther from Iran and easing restrictions on Iranian ports in exchange for Tehran allowing 25 oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, according to Middle Eastern officials cited in the report. These are reported proposals, not agreed terms.
Rezaei has publicly rejected suggestions of negotiations and ruled out removing enriched nuclear material from Iran. The conflicting signals leave both a direct meeting and the prospects for an agreement uncertain.
Vance met Qatar’s prime minister Monday before joining Trump and other senior officials for further discussions. Qatar has been working as an intermediary between Washington and Tehran.
A spokesperson for Vance declined to comment, according to the report. A White House official also disputed the report’s characterization that Trump had second thoughts about a June memorandum of understanding negotiated with Vance’s involvement.
JBizNews Desk | Washington
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