JD Vance reaches out to Iranian hardliner for peace talks amid Trump's strike threat: Report

US Vice President JD Vance has reached out to Iranian hard-liner Mohsen Rezaei in an effort to revive peace negotiations, even as President Donald Trump threatens to resume the war after next week’s midterm elections, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal

Vance sent a letter to Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council and a former commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), in a move aimed at reopening diplomatic channels with Tehran, according to US officials and people familiar with the matter.

The letter, sent at President Donald Trump’s direction, sought to determine whether the US and Iran could reach an understanding on a framework to resume negotiations, the newspaper reported. The letter and subsequent exchanges have focused on establishing the groundwork for talks rather than outlining the terms of a comprehensive peace deal.

Rezaei is a prominent hard-line figure in the country. Last week, he said that Tehran would not engage in negotiations with Washington until its key demands were met.

The diplomatic outreach comes amid growing concerns that the conflict, which began with US and Israeli strikes on Iran in late February, could intensify again in the coming weeks.

Trump has denied directing Vance to pursue peace negotiations with Iran, providing a different account of the vice president’s diplomatic engagement.

“No. Iran needs help with medical supplies. Basically, it’s getting supplies in to help people that are not well,” Trump told reporters at Joint Base Andrews when asked whether he had instructed Vance to start peace talks.

Q: Did you direct Vance to talk to Iran to start peace negotiations? Trump: No. Iran needs help with medical supplies. Basically, it's getting supplies in to help people that are not well. https://t.co/8AZ8Jg84Kr

— Clash Report (@clashreport) October 28, 2026 p>

The remarks followed a Wall Street Journal report that Vance had reached out to Rezaei at Trump’s direction, adding that the US president was aware of the diplomatic initiative.

Despite the renewed communication, there are no indications that Washington and Tehran have reached an agreement on a detailed plan to end the conflict.

The diplomatic initiative comes as the Trump administration weighs the possibility of launching another round of strikes against Iran following the November 3 US midterm elections.

According to The Wall Street Journal, Washington has asked several Gulf Arab countries to prepare for a potential “short, intense military campaign” against Iran. However, people familiar with the discussions told the newspaper that Trump has yet to make a final decision on whether to proceed with further military action.

The prospect of renewed strikes has added urgency to efforts to find a diplomatic solution, following months of stalled negotiations and escalating regional tensions.