Vance leads behind-the-scenes push for new Iran deal: Axios

• JD Vance has spent two weeks leading indirect talks with Iran to broker a new ceasefire and restart nuclear negotiations.
• Vance conducted near-daily talks alongside Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner with Qatari Prime Minister Al-Thani and Pakistani Army Chief Asim Munir
• The diplomatic effort aims to exit the war, which Vance identified as the primary catalyst for severe Republican midterm losses
• Trump confirmed the talks and supported diplomacy, while keeping U.S. forces primed to strike if talks collapse
• Vance sent a letter proposing direct talks to Iranian security chief Mohsen Rezaei, which Iranian officials viewed as creating positive momentum

US Vice President Vance has spent the past two weeks directly engaged in indirect negotiations with Iran aimed at brokering a new ceasefire and resuming stalled nuclear discussions, Axios reported, citing two sources with knowledge of the matter.

The US vice president’s direct involvement elevates the indirect track to the administration’s highest levels, signaling an effort by Vance to extricate the United States from a conflict he blamed for the Republican Party’s staggering losses in this week’s election.

According to US officials and regional sources cited by Axios, US President Donald Trump is currently willing to let diplomatic efforts play out to determine whether an agreement can be reached.

“We’re talking to them,” Trump told reporters on Friday when asked about his message to Iran.

However, sources noted that should Trump reverse course and order renewed military action, US forces remain prepared to launch strikes on a relatively short timetable.

Behind the scenes, Vance has held almost daily discussions with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, Pakistani Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir, and other mediators, Axios reported.

White House envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner are also participating in the diplomatic track.

Sources with direct knowledge disclosed that Vance and Qatari and Pakistani interlocutors have explored convening a working-level technical meeting between US and Iranian officials in the coming days, though such a meeting has not yet materialized.

The US vice president’s office declined to comment on the talks.

Vance stood out as the most skeptical voice within Trump’s inner circle prior to the war’s outbreak at the end of February, consistently advocating for a diplomatic resolution.

He previously led the US negotiating team to an April summit on Iran in Islamabad and was directly involved in securing the US-Iran memorandum of understanding (MOU) in June.

Vance subsequently headed the US delegation to direct talks in Switzerland, which resulted in Tehran committing to invite United Nations inspectors to its nuclear sites.

However, the agreement unraveled shortly after when Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps resumed attacks on commercial shipping.

The current diplomatic momentum was spurred two weeks ago when Vance sent a letter to Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council and a close confidant of Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, proposing the resumption of direct talks.

Iranian officials indicated that Vance’s letter created positive momentum toward reviving negotiations. On Wednesday, Vance reiterated that the conflict was the primary reason voters repudiated the GOP at the polls.

While sources involved in the mediation describe progress as occurring, they characterized the pace as very slow.

Diplomatic engagement continued Friday morning when Trump spoke with the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, regarding Doha’s efforts to bridge differences between Washington and Tehran.

In a statement released by his office, Sheikh Tamim stressed the need to “continue dialogue and pursuing diplomatic means to resolve differences, spare the region further escalation, and ensure freedom of maritime navigation and the security of energy supplies.”