President Trump confirmed Wednesday that Vice President JD Vance had contacted a prominent Iranian official as part of a new peace initiative, occurring just days before the midterm elections.
"He asked me what I thought and I said if you want to do that that’s OK," Trump told reporters, referencing a report from The Wall Street Journal. The report detailed a letter sent by Vance to Mohsen Rezaei, the secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council.
Rezaei, a former commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, is understood to hold significant influence in Tehran. He recently met with a delegation from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey.
The Journal reported that Rezaei has historically been opposed to negotiations with the United States and had recently threatened to escalate Iranian attacks on targets in neighboring Arab countries. The exact timing of Vance’s communication and its specific content were not immediately disclosed, but the message reportedly outlined a new framework for potential negotiations.
Previously, Iran's parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, and foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, had led the country's negotiating efforts. These efforts included a 21-hour meeting in Islamabad in April with Vance, alongside special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
Trump has previously indicated a willingness to resume military action against Iran following the Nov. 3 congressional elections. "We may do another little Epic Fury," he stated at a rally in Fort Myers, Florida. "Or they’ll agree. If they’re smart, they’ll just say, let’s get down to business. But, you know, I doubt they’ll do that because perhaps they’re not smart."
