Report: US Vice President sent a letter to Iran in an attempt to renew peace talks

The Wall Street Journal reports that US Vice President JD Vance sent a letter to Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, at the instruction of President Trump, in an attempt to renew negotiations and examine whether renewed fighting can be avoided. The mediating states are holding consultations with Tehran ahead of a meeting in Turkey before November 4.

US Vice President JD Vance sent a letter to Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, in an attempt to renew negotiations between the countries and examine whether a common basis can be formulated to avoid a renewal of fighting — so reported the Wall Street Journal on Wednesday evening. According to the report, the letter was sent at the instruction of President Donald Trump, and the talks that followed between American and Iranian officials focused on a possible framework for negotiations rather than on the details of a peace proposal. In parallel, the states mediating in the contacts are holding consultations with Tehran in an attempt to hold a meeting in Turkey before November 4, Al-Hadath reported, citing sources. According to the report, the new proposal includes a timetable for opening the Strait of Hormuz to shipping and lifting the blockade imposed on Iran, and also addresses the Iranian nuclear issue — one of its clauses deals with inviting nuclear inspectors to Iran. It was further reported that Tehran is asking to shorten one of the time frames in the proposal from seven days to four, without specifying which stage the demand refers to. During the night, the US notified several Gulf states to prepare for the possibility of a short and intense military campaign against Iran after the congressional midterm elections, according to the Wall Street Journal, citing officials briefed on the talks. The messages were conveyed through diplomatic and military channels, and the aim of the possible move is to weaken Tehran and push it toward negotiations, with the risk of significant escalation. It was also reported that the US is sending a Patriot battery to the Israel region. Officials warned that in the past Trump has appeared inclined toward certain actions but pulled back at the last moment. The White House declined to comment, and a senior Pentagon official told CNN that the Defense Department is a planning body whose role is to develop and execute military options ordered by the president.