Vice President JD Vance could join US-Iran negotiations

Vice President JD Vance is reportedly on standby to engage in sensitive negotiations with Iran if ongoing backchannel talks advance to a direct meeting with Iranian officials.

Currently, the discussions are being led by Steve Witkoff, the president’s special envoy, and Jared Kushner, the president’s son-in-law. According to a person familiar with the talks, who spoke on condition of anonymity to Politico, Vance could be brought in if the pair make sufficient progress. It remains unclear what concessions Iran might be expected to offer.

The potential role for Vance was hinted at by President Donald Trump on April 6 and reflects how the vice president has emerged as an influential figure in the White House’s approach to the conflict.

“President Trump has an extraordinary national security team, including Vice President Vance, Secretary [of State Marco] Rubio, Special Envoy Witkoff, and Mr. Kushner, who are working together to see if a peace deal is possible,” White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said. “The Vice President has always been a trusted voice on all foreign policy topics, and the President appreciates his work to see whether the Iranians can meet the reality of this current moment. In the meantime, the United States Military will continue to annihilate all of its military targets, and Iran will be sent back to the stone ages tomorrow night if they fail to engage in a serious way.”

Vance’s potential involvement comes at a highly sensitive juncture in U.S.-Iran relations. President Trump has issued threats of devastating strikes on Iran if its leaders do not meet U.S. demands by the night of April 7.

Meanwhile, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has promised “unprecedented strikes” on the country in the coming days, highlighting the tension between diplomatic overtures and the threat of military escalation.

By Sabina Mammadli