Vance Reportedly Offers to Meet Iran’s Rezaei as White House Seeks Nuclear Deal

U.S. Vice President JD Vance has reportedly offered to meet Iran’s powerful security chief Mohsen Rezaei in an effort to secure a nuclear agreement and avert renewed military conflict, according to The Washington Post.

Vance sent a letter to Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council and a former commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, last week, columnist David Ignatius reported on October 29, citing a U.S. official familiar with the negotiations.

The Wall Street Journal first reported the letter on October 28, with The New York Times and Axios following. Clash Report reported that Vance had sent the letter to Rezaei to revive peace talks the same evening.

The White House believes Rezaei is the most important figure in Tehran for building political support behind an agreement limiting Iran’s nuclear program, according to the column. The approach comes as Washington moves additional forces to the region and weighs renewed strikes on Iran after the November 3 midterm elections.

Vance Offers to Meet Rezaei Personally

The letter reportedly proposed direct engagement with Rezaei to discuss a negotiated settlement. According to the U.S. official cited by Ignatius, the message emphasized the national interests of both countries and identified preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon as Washington’s central objective.

Vance also acknowledged Iran’s interest in rebuilding its economy after war and sanctions while preserving its sovereignty, the official said. The letter called for Tehran to appoint representatives with sufficient authority to negotiate binding nuclear commitments, and Vance indicated that he was prepared to meet Rezaei personally.

The New York Times, citing a U.S. official and an Iranian official, reported that the letter was delivered through Qatari mediators on Sunday and that Vance would lead the talks for the United States.

If a meeting takes place, Istanbul or Doha would be the most likely locations, according to the U.S. official. No meeting has been announced.

President Donald Trump has played down the purpose of the outreach. Asked on October 28 whether he had directed Vance to contact Iran to start peace negotiations, Trump answered “No,” saying Iran needs help with medical supplies.

White House Sees Rezaei as Key Decision-Maker

The Trump administration has increasingly focused its diplomatic efforts on Rezaei, who previously led the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and retains influence among senior figures within the organization. U.S. intelligence officials reportedly believe he maintains regular contact with Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, and the two are understood to have communicated in recent days following receipt of Vance’s letter.

According to the report, Rezaei has also strengthened his position by restructuring the Supreme National Security Council and appointing officials aligned with him. His connections extend to officials responsible for managing Iran’s economy. U.S. officials believe this combination of political, military and economic influence gives Rezaei the ability to assemble support for a potential agreement.

Analysts caution that decisions in Tehran are made collectively. Georgetown University professor Nader Hashemi told Al Jazeera that Rezaei “is just one voice among many.”

Washington Fears Diplomatic Window Is Closing

The outreach comes amid concern within the White House that time is running out to reach a settlement without further fighting. Trump told Axios on October 28 that “we need to finish the job — either through a deal or another way.”

The U.S. has also warned Gulf states to brace for an intense Iran campaign after the midterms, Clash Report reported on October 28.

A third U.S. aircraft carrier and thousands of additional troops are reportedly heading to the region, and U.S. and Israeli officials have told Axios they are preparing for a possible week of strikes on Iran after the midterms. Trump has not made a final decision on new strikes.

In Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc won 53 of 120 Knesset seats in the October 27 election, short of the 61 needed for a majority, leaving him as caretaker prime minister while coalition talks begin. Analysts told The National that Netanyahu has signaled that any new operation should aim to topple the Iranian government.

Despite the military preparations, the report indicates that the administration prefers a negotiated agreement to another round of military operations, and it is seeking a response from Tehran before the situation deteriorates further.

Earlier Islamabad Negotiations Failed

Vance has played a leading role in the administration’s diplomatic engagement with Iran. In April, he traveled to Islamabad for talks with Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, speaker of Iran’s parliament. The United States discussed sanctions relief and economic engagement in exchange for a binding nuclear agreement, a path Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth described as a “golden bridge” to a prosperous future.

The talks ended without a deal, and Ghalibaf was unable to secure sufficient support for the arrangement within Iran’s leadership, according to the report.

The two sides later signed a limited memorandum of understanding in June that formalized a ceasefire, but it collapsed within weeks after fighting resumed around the Strait of Hormuz. The failure reportedly prompted Washington to reconsider which Iranian officials could negotiate and deliver an agreement.

Qatar Mediates as Iran Withholds a Response

Qatar has served as a principal mediator in the conflict. According to the report, Qatari representatives have maintained regular communication with Rezaei and other senior Iranian officials, and Qatari mediators returned to Tehran on Friday for talks coordinated with Washington, an official told Reuters.

Iranian leaders reportedly interpreted Vance’s direct letter as a gesture of respect. However, there has been no indication that Tehran has changed its position on the nuclear restrictions sought by Washington. Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency reported on Thursday that Tehran had received the letter but had not yet responded, and that it wants the United States to meet Iran’s conditions.

The two sides remain divided over sequencing. Washington wants nuclear issues addressed from the outset, while Tehran insists the United States first end its naval blockade and ease restrictions on Iranian oil exports.

The central obstacle remains whether Iran’s leadership is prepared to accept binding limits on its nuclear program. U.S. officials believe Rezaei has the influence needed to overcome internal disagreements, but no agreement has been reached.

Rezaei’s Political History Complicates Talks

Rezaei’s career has been closely associated with opposition to the United States and Israel, and his background as an IRGC commander makes him an unusual potential partner for Washington’s diplomatic initiative. Ignatius describes him as a hard-liner who has built a career on defiance of the United States.

Yet American officials reportedly regard that same background as an advantage. They believe his standing within Iran’s security establishment could allow him to secure support for concessions that other negotiators have been unable to deliver.

The White House also believes he understands the economic pressure facing Iran, whose economy has been weakened by sanctions, a U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports and disruption to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. The administration hopes those pressures will create an incentive for Tehran to negotiate.

Potential Talks Could Take Place in Istanbul or Doha

The next step depends on whether Rezaei and Iran’s leadership respond positively to Vance’s proposal. Istanbul and Doha have been identified as potential venues for a meeting, but no date or location has been agreed. U.S. and Iranian officials told The New York Times that direct negotiations could potentially start as early as next week in Qatar or Turkey.

The initiative also comes days before the November 3 U.S. midterm elections, adding a domestic political dimension to the administration’s diplomatic efforts. For now, Washington is maintaining two parallel approaches: increasing military pressure while seeking a negotiated settlement.

The White House believes Rezaei may be the only Iranian official capable of securing a consensus behind a nuclear deal, according to the report. Whether he is willing to pursue such an agreement remains unclear.