Al-Jarida Exclusive: Khamenei Rejects Vance's Initiative: Halt War Before Discussing 'Nuclear' and 'Hormuz'
Mojtaba Khamenei rejected Vance's initiative, which conditions negotiations on a ceasefire, as the US administration seeks to avoid military escalation before the elections.
Translated by Qiyas from الجريدة — Original source
The source stated that Mojtaba Khamenei informed Razzazi, during a meeting a few days ago, that Iran’s response to any proposals, whether American or otherwise, could be summarized in a single position: any solution must begin with a guaranteed and sustainable cessation of war and all hostile acts against Iran and its allies in the region, before moving on to negotiate all disputed files.
The New York Times quoted American and Iranian officials as saying the message was sent last week through Qatari mediation and reached Razzazi last Sunday. It included an invitation to resolve differences through direct negotiations, with an emphasis on placing Iran’s nuclear program on the agenda from the outset of the talks.
According to the source, Vance proposed in his message a humanitarian initiative calling for a partial lifting of the US maritime blockade, allowing the passage of shipments of essential goods and medicines, and releasing part of Iran’s frozen assets in Qatar to finance the purchase of basic needs and medicines, under US supervision. In return, Tehran would commit to halting the obstruction of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and restoring the situation there to what it was before February 28, 2026.
The source noted that the current offer reduces the financial counterpart that was proposed during negotiations related to the Islamabad memorandum. Instead of allowing access to approximately $6 billion in Iranian funds frozen in Qatar and about $13 billion in Iraqi debts that prevent Washington from allowing Baghdad to pay them, the new proposal stipulates the release of an amount not exceeding $3 billion.
The initiative proposes that, in a later stage, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors be allowed to inspect Iranian nuclear facilities and suspected sites, in exchange for a broader US release of frozen assets, following the same mechanism that restricts their use to purchasing essential goods and medicines for Iranian citizens, with spending subject to verifiable oversight.
According to the source, the US Vice President reiterated the current administration’s readiness to resolve long-standing disputes with Iran, normalize relations between the two countries, and reach lucrative economic deals, as well as contribute to developing a vision with regional support for Iran’s reconstruction, economic reform, and integration into the regional economic system.
The message, according to the source, stressed that the window for a peaceful settlement is narrowing, urging the Iranian leadership to clarify its position and provide a swift response, preferably before the US midterm elections. Vance warned that delays could weaken his ability, and that of the pro-diplomatic solution faction within the administration, to persuade President Donald Trump to halt plans for large-scale military operations after the elections.
Trump had denied instructing his vice president to restart negotiations with Iran, in response to a New York Times report regarding the message addressed to Razzazi. He said that Iran needed assistance in the field of medical supplies, and that Vance had asked him for his opinion on the matter, to which he replied that he had no objection.
However, the Iranian source said that Tehran was informed that Trump had reviewed the content of Vance’s initiative and approved it, emphasizing the necessity of conveying the message to Khamenei.
The New York Times quoted American and Iranian officials as saying the message was sent last week through Qatari mediation and reached Razzazi last Sunday. According to the newspaper, it included an invitation to resolve differences through direct negotiations, with an emphasis on placing Iran’s nuclear program on the agenda from the beginning of the talks.
For her part, The Wall Street Journal reported that Vance is seeking to test whether there is common ground with Tehran, which could help him persuade Trump to avoid issuing an order for a short, intense military strike on Iran ahead of the midterm elections scheduled for next Tuesday. The newspaper noted that the communications have not yet addressed the details of a peace agreement, but instead focused on establishing a potential framework for negotiations aimed at ending the war, amid U.S. assessments that engaging with hardline Iranian figures could open the door to a diplomatic settlement.
For his part, Axios reported that Vance proposed to Trump sending the message to Raisi, citing his possession of a direct line of communication with Khamenei, while the site quoted a U.S. official stating that Trump expressed enthusiasm for the initiative.
