Vance considers face-to-face talks with Iran's Rezaei to end war: report

US Vice President JD Vance is contemplating initiating direct discussions with Iranian security official Mohsen Rezaei in an effort to terminate the ongoing war, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal. The report, based on conversations with US and Middle Eastern officials, suggests that President Donald Trump has authorized Vance to resume negotiations with Tehran.

In October, Vance had sent a letter to Rezaei, the secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, requesting a meeting, though no specific date has been set.

Doha is being considered as a potential location for the Vance-Rezaei talks, although significant hurdles remain. Iranian officials insist on the lifting of the US naval blockade, the release of frozen assets, and the easing of oil sanctions before any negotiations can resume. In response, mediators have proposed relocating US aircraft carriers further away to lessen the risk of significant confrontations, as well as easing the blockade on Iranian ports. In return, Iran is said to be willing to permit 25 tankers to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.

However, some US officials, including US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, have labeled Iran's demands as "unrealistic." Despite this, the US remains open to diplomacy should Tehran modify its stance. Rubio acknowledged that Washington is prepared for dialogue if Iran alters its position, although some regional mediators have expressed skepticism about the possibility of reaching an agreement in the near future.

The prospects of these talks carrying political risks for Vance, who has previously criticized the Iran war for contributing to Republican losses in the midterm elections. Trump, on the other hand, has privately questioned whether the June agreement Vance helped negotiate was a costly error that allowed Iran to amass oil revenues prior to the imposition of the naval blockade.

A White House official denied Trump's doubts about the agreement. The Journal reported that Vance has recently assumed a more active role in Iran diplomacy compared to Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who are also engaged in negotiations regarding the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Within the administration, there is ongoing deliberation about whether to resume peace talks or sustain the naval blockade and sanctions until Iran is prepared to accept a viable peace deal.

Rubio and White House Chief of Staff Stephen Miller advocate for maintaining pressure on Iran, as per the report.