Report: US Vice President Sent Letter to Iran in 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 direction of President Trump, in an attempt to renew negotiations and assess whether renewed hostilities can be avoided. Mediating countries 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 two countries and explore whether a common basis can be established to avoid renewed hostilities — the Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday evening. According to the report, the letter was sent at the direction of President Donald Trump, and subsequent talks between American and Iranian officials focused on a possible framework for negotiations rather than the details of a peace proposal. Meanwhile, mediating countries are holding consultations with Tehran in an effort to hold a meeting in Turkey before November 4, according to Al-Hadath channel citing sources. The new proposal includes a timeline for opening the Strait of Hormuz to navigation and lifting the blockade imposed on Iran, and also addresses the Iranian nuclear issue — with one clause concerning inviting nuclear inspectors to Iran. It was also reported that Tehran seeks to shorten one of the time periods in the proposal from seven days to four, without specifying which stage the demand refers to. During the night, the US informed several Gulf states to prepare for the possibility of a short and intense military campaign against Iran after the midterm congressional elections, according to the Wall Street Journal citing officials briefed on the talks. The messages were conveyed through diplomatic and military channels, and the possible move aims to weaken Tehran and push it toward negotiations, with a risk of significant escalation. It was also reported that the US is sending a Patriot battery to the Israel region. Officials warned that Trump has previously appeared inclined toward certain actions but backed down at the last moment. The White House declined to comment, and a Pentagon official told CNN that the Department of Defense is a planning body whose role is to develop and execute military options ordered by the president.