US Vice-President Vance spoke to intermediaries about Iran conflict as recently as March 31, source says
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Mr Vance has taken a greater role in trying to negotiate an end to the war, now in its fifth week.
- J.D. Vance engaged Pakistani intermediaries about the Iran conflict, signalling Trump's openness to a ceasefire if US demands are met.
- Vance warned of growing pressure on Iranian infrastructure if Tehran doesn't agree to a deal, highlighting Trump's impatience.
- Pakistan is mediating between the US and Iran, with Vance playing a larger role in negotiations alongside Rubio, Witkoff, and Kushner.
AI generated
WASHINGTON - US Vice-President J.D. Vance communicated with intermediaries from Pakistan about the Iran conflict as recently as March 31, a person briefed on the matter told Reuters, a sign of his expanding role in efforts to broker an end to the conflict.
At President Donald Trump's direction, Mr Vance signalled privately that Mr Trump was open to a ceasefire as long as certain US demands were met, the source told Reuters on April 1.
Mr Vance also delivered what the source described as a “stern message” that Mr Trump was impatient, warning there would be growing pressure on Iranian infrastructure unless Tehran agreed to a deal.
Pakistan has been acting as an intermediary between the United States and Iran, the source said.
Mr Vance has taken a greater role in trying to negotiate an end to the war, now in its fifth week.
Widely viewed as a potential successor to Mr Trump in the 2028 presidential election, Mr Vance has taken a cautious approach on the conflict, reflecting his long-held scepticism of prolonged US military involvement overseas.
The source said the team that Mr Trump has said are involved in negotiations - Mr Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner - remain involved.
Mr Trump has warned the US would attack Iranian infrastructure but has delayed launching such attacks on Iran’s power grid until April 6 in hopes of reaching a deal with Tehran. REUTERS
