Washington is moving to revive negotiations with Tehran through an initiative led by US Vice President JD Vance, in an effort to resume direct dialogue and avoid potential military escalation following the US Congressional midterm elections scheduled for November 3.
The Wall Street Journal revealed that Vance, acting on directives from US President Donald Trump, sent a message to Mohsen Rezaei, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, to explore the possibility of finding common ground between Washington and Tehran, which could lead Trump to refrain from issuing an order for a heavy military attack on Iran in the coming weeks.
Parallel Diplomatic Tracks
The New York Times also reported that the message was delivered to Rezaei last Sunday via Qatari mediation, and that Vance emphasized the necessity of resolving differences through direct negotiations, placing the Iranian nuclear file on the table from the outset. It noted that Vance’s proposal to hold a meeting between US and Iranian officials and lead the talks on behalf of Washington was accepted by the Iranian leadership.
For his part, Axios reported that Trump showed enthusiasm for the initiative, but the US President told journalists yesterday, Wednesday, that his deputy’s message focused on providing medical supplies to Iran, denying that he had tasked him with resuming peace negotiations, while confirming his approval of communication with the Iranian side.
Continued Disagreements and Military Pressure
These moves come amid ongoing disagreements over the files up for negotiation. Iranian media reported that Tehran is sticking to its positions regarding the nuclear file and demanding US guarantees for any potential agreements. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated in a post on the X platform that his country is continuing to give diplomacy a chance to succeed and is in close and continuous contact with mediators to review ideas that could ensure the implementation of the seven-day plan previously presented.
Despite diplomatic moves, the risk of military escalation remains, as two diplomats told the Associated Press that US officials informed several Middle Eastern countries and regional allies of the need to prepare for the possibility of resuming military operations against Iran after the midterm elections, and to take precautionary measures in anticipation of a potential Iranian response.
Regional Efforts to De-escalate Tensions
Qatari efforts to defuse the confrontation and avoid renewed escalation in the region are intensifying, particularly regarding its repercussions on navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, alongside Saudi, Pakistani, and Turkish moves to open negotiation channels to prevent a return to military operations. In this context, Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman, Pakistani Army Chief General Asim Munir, and Turkish Intelligence Agency Head Ibrahim Kalın visited Tehran last Monday as part of efforts aimed at creating conditions for resuming negotiations.
These efforts gain additional importance amid the growing economic repercussions of the war. The Associated Press reported that US Department of Defense estimates submitted to Congress raised the cost of the war to approximately $47.1 billion. Meanwhile, energy market movements show that oil prices continue to be affected by fears of renewed military operations and supply disruptions, increasing pressure to contain the escalation and find a political settlement to end the war.
Source: Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)
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