Media: Vance set to lead US talks with Iran as negotiations loom

US Vice President JD Vance is expected to take a leading role in potential negotiations between Washington and Tehran, as diplomatic manoeuvring continues alongside ongoing tensions.

According to Israeli Channel 12, Vance held a series of high-level engagements last week, including talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, meetings with senior officials from US-allied countries in the Persian Gulf, and involvement in indirect contacts with Iranian representatives.

The broadcaster reported that Vance is likely to head the US delegation if formal negotiations begin in the coming weeks. Sources indicated that he expects the military confrontation with Iran to continue for several more weeks before any breakthrough.

Officials in the White House said Vance’s senior standing within the administration of President Donald Trump, combined with his public opposition to prolonged military engagements, has made him a more appealing interlocutor for Tehran. In contrast, Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner and special envoy Steve Witkoff, who led negotiations with Iran in February, are viewed as less favourable options, according to the sources.

“If the Iranians cannot reach an agreement with Vance, there will be no agreement. This is the best they can get,” a senior Trump administration official told the broadcaster. A White House source added that Vance is ready to “step onto the stage,” but only once direct talks between the United States and Iran formally begin.

On March 24, Trump stated that Vance, Witkoff and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are already involved in discussions with Iran. He also said that Iranian authorities have agreed not to pursue nuclear weapons, a claim that Tehran has publicly denied, maintaining that no negotiations with the United States are currently taking place.

Trump further asserted that Iran allowed 10 oil tankers to pass through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz earlier this week, after previously closing it in response to US and Israeli strikes. According to the US president, the move was intended to signal Tehran’s seriousness about engaging in ceasefire negotiations.

By Tamilla Hasanova