Vance reaches out to Iran as Trump threatens fresh strikes

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 28 Oct, 23:56 · Archive

Vice president JD Vance has written to an Iranian official to explore peace negotiations, days after Trump threatened new military action.

Vice president JD Vance has sent a letter to Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, to explore whether the two countries could find common ground for negotiations. The letter was sent at Trump's request, according to sources familiar with the matter, though Trump initially denied this before later confirming it. Trump said when asked: "He asked me what I thought. I said, if you want to do that, that's okay."

The outreach follows Trump's threats of military action against Iran. On Sunday, Trump told Fox News: "Do I make a deal with them, or do I finish them off? That's the only question." He has also threatened to resume bombing Iran after the November midterm elections, saying at a rally: "We may do another little Epic Fury."

Rezaei is a former commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps described as hostile to negotiations with the US. He has recently met with delegations from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey, and threatened to expand Iranian attacks on targets in neighbouring Arab countries. The New York Post reports the letter mentioned a new framework for negotiations, though the precise timing and full content remain unclear. According to the Independent World, US officials have told Middle East allies to prepare for potential renewed military action against Iran after next week's elections.

How it is being reported

• JD Vance pens letter to Iran hardliner in peace talk overturePresident Trump on Wednesday confirmed that Vice President JD Vance had reached out to an Iranian hardliner in a new peace overture days before the midterm elections.New York Post · 28 Oct, 23:36
• Vance ‘reaches out to Iran for peace talks’ days after Trump threatens new bombing campaignVice president writes letter to Iranian Security Council chief in bid to revive peace negotiationsIndependent World · 28 Oct, 23:13

In this story: JD Vance · Donald Trump · Mohsen Rezaei · Iran · United States

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log