The big picture: U.S. officials and regional sources say that for now, Trump is willing to let diplomatic efforts play out and wants to see if a deal is possible.
- “We’re talking to them,” Trump told reporters Friday, when asked what his message to Iran was.
- But if he changes his mind and orders new strikes, the U.S. military is prepared to launch strikes on relatively short notice.
Behind the scenes: Vance spoke almost daily with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, Pakistani Army Chief of Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir and other mediators about negotiations with Iran, sources with direct knowledge said.
- White House envoy Steve Witkoff and President Trump’s adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner are also implicated.
- Vance and the Qatari and Pakistani mediators discussed the possibility of a technical working meeting between the United States and Iran in the coming days, but this has not yet materialized, the sources said.
- The vice president’s office declined to comment.
Catch up quickly: Vance was the most skeptical voice in Trump’s inner circle about the war before it began in late February, arguing instead for a diplomatic solution.
- He led the US negotiating team to a summit on Iran in Islamabad in April, and he was personally involved in the talks that led to the US-Iran memorandum of understanding (MOU) in June.
- Vance then led the U.S. delegation to a series of direct talks with Iran in Switzerland, which ended with an Iranian commitment to invite U.N. inspectors to tour its nuclear facilities.
- But soon after, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps resumed attacks on the ships, leading to the collapse of the memorandum of understanding.
Driving the news: Two weeks ago, Vance sent a letter to Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Secretary Mohsen Rezaei proposing to resume direct negotiations.
- Rezaei is one of the closest confidants of Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei.
- Iranian officials said Vance’s letter created positive momentum toward resuming negotiations.
- On Wednesday, Vance said the war was the main reason Republicans were defeated in the election.
State of affairs: Sources involved in the mediation efforts say progress has been made, but it has been very slow.
- On Friday morning, Trump spoke with Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim al-Thani about Qatar’s efforts to bridge differences between the United States and Iran over a deal.
- Sheikh Tamim stressed the need to “continue dialogue and seek diplomatic means to resolve disputes, avoid further escalation in the region and guarantee freedom of maritime navigation and security of energy supplies,” according to a statement from his office.
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