JD Vance letter to Iranian security chief reported amid US strike threats

A JD Vance letter to Iranian security chief Mohsen Rezaei reportedly sought a basis for renewed negotiations between Washington and Tehran, according to reports published on October 28 and 29. The contact comes as US President Donald Trump considers further attacks on Iran.

Officials and people familiar with the discussions said the vice president wrote to Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council. They described the exchanges as an attempt to establish a framework for talks, rather than negotiations over a detailed peace settlement.

Accounts differ over Trump’s instructions. People familiar with the initiative said he directed the letter, but the president denied asking Vance to start peace negotiations and said the contact concerned medical supplies for Iran.

Earlier diplomacy remains stalled

A spokesman for Vance declined to discuss the exchanges, while the White House referred questions to the vice president’s office. Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman said he had no information about the outreach.

The JD Vance letter follows earlier attempts to resolve the conflict through mediation involving Qatar and Pakistan. An understanding reached in June broke down after disagreements about restoring shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

Washington has sought nuclear concessions at the start of a deal, while Tehran wants immediate economic relief. Rezaei, a former commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, said last week that Iran would not negotiate before its central demands were satisfied.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has nevertheless said diplomacy remains possible and that Tehran is communicating with intermediaries. Iran’s proposed seven-day initiative linked reopening the strait and renewed nuclear talks to measures including an end to the US naval blockade and relief on oil sanctions; Trump rejected that proposal.

The United States has reportedly warned regional partners to prepare for possible military action after the November 3 midterm elections. No final decision on new strikes had been made, according to people familiar with those discussions.

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