Via Qatar: 'Negotiation Message' from Vance to Razaei

Washington, Agencies: The New York Times revealed that U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance sent a message to Iranian National Security Council Secretary Mohsen Rezaei, at the direction of President Donald Trump, in an attempt to revive stalled negotiations between Washington and Tehran. Citing a U.S. official and an Iranian official, the newspaper reported that Vance initiated contact with Rezaei via a message sent last week through Qatari mediation and delivered last Sunday to the Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council. It noted that Vance emphasized in the message addressed to Rezaei the necessity for Iran and the United States to resolve the dispute through direct negotiations. According to the message, Vance insisted on reaching a solution to the nuclear issue, stressing that Iran’s nuclear program must be placed on the negotiating table from the outset. It added that if Iran accepts Vance’s offer, “negotiations would technically begin without any preconditions,” and that direct talks could start as early as next week, either in Qatar or Turkey.

According to the newspaper, Vance’s proposal to hold a meeting between U.S. and Iranian officials, with him leading the talks on behalf of the United States, was “well received by Iranian leaders.” It noted that many Iranian leaders view Vance as an influential figure who could help put an end to attacks against Iran. The newspaper quoted U.S. officials and informed sources as saying that Vance is trying to determine whether there is common ground with Tehran, in order to persuade Trump not to issue a final order for a short, intense attack on Iran following the midterm elections scheduled for next Tuesday. An informed source told the newspaper that Vance’s message to Rezaei and the subsequent discussions between officials of the two countries did not include details of a peace proposal, but focused on a potential framework for negotiations aimed at ending the war between the two countries.

Meanwhile, Axios reported that Vance proposed to Trump the idea of sending the message to Rezaei, arguing that Rezaei has a direct line to Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei. Axios quoted a U.S. official as saying that President Trump was enthusiastic about Vance sending a message to Rezaei. However, the U.S. president downplayed the significance of this step. Trump indicated that communication between Vance and Rezaei “was aimed at offering to provide medical supplies,” not at reviving negotiations.

Additionally, Axios revealed that the United States and Israel are preparing for the possibility of resuming military operations against Iran through a broad air campaign that could last a week, targeting Iranian leadership, energy facilities, nuclear sites, and infrastructure, in case diplomatic efforts fail to reach an agreement preventing the resumption of war. Axios correspondent Barak Ravid quoted U.S., Israeli, and regional sources as saying that a new military operation could begin after the U.S. midterm elections. The report clarified that the Israeli General Staff and U.S. Central Command have been in contact to coordinate preparations for the possibility of carrying out new attacks, indicating that military planning continues in parallel with political moves aimed at containing escalation. Sources confirmed that the potential operation would be broader than limited strikes, expected to include targets related to Iranian leadership, the energy sector, nuclear facilities, and infrastructure.