Vance Reportedly Considers Direct Talks With Iran’s Security Chief Rezaei

U.S. Vice President JD Vance is considering direct talks with Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, according to a report published Wednesday. President Donald Trump has reportedly authorized Vance to negotiate and told senior aides he is open to restarting talks. Discussions about a face-to-face meeting remain preliminary. Vance reportedly sent Rezaei a letter proposing a meeting in October and has recently assumed a more active role in Iran diplomacy than envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. Doha is being considered as a venue if the sides agree to meet. Iran’s reported conditions include lifting the naval blockade, releasing frozen assets and easing oil sanctions. Mediators have reportedly proposed withdrawing American aircraft carriers in exchange for the passage of 25 tankers through the Strait of Hormuz. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in Paris on Tuesday that Washington remained open to diplomacy, while describing Tehran’s current demands as unrealistic. He said sanctions and the blockade were increasing economic pressure on Iran. Rubio said: “We expect that could change, and if it does we’ll be prepared for diplomacy.” Qatar’s Foreign Ministry said Tuesday that Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani met Vance in Washington on Monday, November 9, before meeting Trump at the White House. Spokesperson Ibrahim bin Sultan Al Hashmi said the discussions concerned regional developments and progress in U.S.–Iran negotiations. Qatar said its mediation continued and that details would be disclosed once an agreement’s final form was settled.