JD Vance sent a letter to a senior Iranian official to resume negotiations and avoid further U.S. attacks (WSJ)

U.S. Vice President JD Vance sent a letter to Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, in an attempt to resume negotiations with Tehran and avert further U.S. attacks, the Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday, as cited by AFP on Thursday.

According to the U.S. publication, the message does not propose a peace agreement but a possible framework for negotiations. Vance is seeking to determine whether Washington and Tehran can identify enough common ground to persuade President Donald Trump not to order a “short and intense” military operation against Iran in the coming weeks.

Trump denied that he was behind the initiative, but said Vance had asked for his opinion and that he had approved sending the letter. The diplomatic effort comes amid threats to resume U.S. attacks after the midterm elections, scheduled for November 3.

Washington has reportedly asked several Gulf states to prepare for a possible military campaign. Since September, the U.S. and Iran have not launched major ground attacks, with the confrontation focusing on maritime traffic, the blockade of Iranian ports and control of the Strait of Hormuz.