Tehran has quietly told the Trump administration that it would rather sit across the table from US Vice President JD Vance than deal with other senior American figures right now.
According to a CNN report on Tuesday, Iranian representatives used back channels to pass this message. They expressed a clear lack of trust in special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. Regional sources told CNN that Vance is seen as more sympathetic to ending the war quickly, with one source saying he appears genuinely interested in “wrapping up the conflict.”
Trust issues complicate talks
This preference comes at a sensitive time. A possible meeting in Islamabad later this week is still under discussion, though many insiders remain doubtful it will actually happen. President Donald Trump said earlier on Tuesday that the US is “in negotiations right now” with Iran and mentioned that Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Witkoff and Kushner are all part of the effort.
Furthermore, The United States has already sent Iran a 15-point plan through Pakistan. That proposal covers Tehran’s nuclear programme, ballistic missiles and maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz.
Moreover, Iranian officials continue to deny any direct talks with Washington. They say they have only received messages from “friendly countries” asking them to consider negotiations to stop the fighting.
Heavy human cost of the conflict
Since February 28, US and Israeli air strikes have killed more than 1,340 people in Iran, including the late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
In response, Iran has launched drone and missile attacks on Israel as well as on Jordan, Iraq and Gulf countries that host American bases. These strikes have caused deaths, damaged infrastructure and badly disrupted global markets and air travel.
