US Vice President JD Vance has sent a letter to senior Iranian official Mohsen Rezaei in an effort to resume negotiations between Washington and Tehran and avoid new US military attacks on Iran, The Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday.
According to the newspaper, the letter has been sent to Rezay, the head of Iran’s Supreme Council of National Security at Vance’s initiative and, according to a newspaper – quoted source, by American President Donald Trump’s direction.
The initiative aims to determine whether both sides can find common points to convince Trump not to order a new military campaign against Iran in the coming weeks. Officials have described a possible operation as short but intense.
Diplomatic efforts come despite Trump’s recent statements that his administration is not conducting negotiations with Iran and repeated warnings that new military actions could be taken soon.
According to The Wall Street Journal, subsequent letters and contacts between American and Iranian officials have focused on creating a framework for possible negotiations, not on drafting a detailed peace agreement.
Meanwhile, American portal Axios reported separately that Vance had stressed on paper that any negotiations aimed at preventing new US attacks should include Iran’s nuclear programme.
An American official told Axios that Vance had proposed sending the letter and that Trump welcomed the initiative, but refused to show when it was delivered, the Telegraph broadcast.
However, Trump gave another version of the event Wednesday, denying that he had urged Vance to pursue peace negotiations with Iran. The American president said the contact was mainly aimed at facilitating the delivery of medical supplies.
They need help with medical supplies and various things, Trump told reporters, adding that Vance had sought his approval before continuing.
On the other hand, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Arghchi wrote on Wednesday on the X platform that Iran continues to provide an opportunity for diplomacy, though its armed forces are prepared to defend the country.
While our bold armed forces are fully ready to defend their homeland, Iran is still giving diplomacy the opportunity to succeed, Arghchi said.
He added that Tehran continues to be in close and continued contact with mediators, to review proposals that would ensure the implementation of Iran’s seven-day plan, even within a shorter period than a week.
According to The Wall Street Journal, Washington has asked several Arab Gulf countries to prepare for the possibility of a new military campaign against Iran following the US-based elections of the Muslim Union, scheduled for 3 November.
However, according to persons informed of the discussions, Trump has not yet made a final decision on whether to authorise other attacks.
The conflict, which began in late February with American and Israeli attacks, has caused major disruptions in energy transport from Gulf countries. Limitations on navigation through the Strait of Hormuz have also affected the wider economy, increasing uncertainty about global energy supplies.
Recent diplomatic efforts are held at a time when it remains unclear whether Washington and Tehran will manage to find a compromise to avoid further military escalation. /Telegraphy/
