Vance sends nuclear ultimatum to Tehran ahead of midterm elections
The vice president's letter to Iran's security chief links new ceasefire talks to progress on the nuclear issue, even as CENTCOM disputes mine claims in the Strait of Hormuz.
By Nia Foster ·
JD Vance dispatched a letter to Mohsen Rezaei, Iran's national security chief, stating that any negotiations to stop US military strikes must include talks on the nuclear issue. The communication arrived as Washington weighs its next move following the US midterm elections.
According to a US official cited by Axios, Trump was enthusiastic about the letter. It represents the most senior level of outreach from Washington to Tehran in months. The Wall Street Journal first reported the exchange, though the exact date of the message remains unknown.
Rezaei holds a direct line to Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei. On Tuesday, he met with Khamenei after concluding high-level talks with representatives from Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan. This marked the first direct contact between Iran and those three nations.
While diplomatic channels reopened, military officials disputed recent claims from Iranian media. CENTCOM posted on X on Wednesday that US forces had cleared all internationally recognized transit routes in the Strait of Hormuz of sea mines.
The command stated that thousands of commercial vessels continue to use the lanes safely. This denial contradicts reports that ships struck mines while transiting the strait.
The next step in the diplomatic process is pending. Trump is currently considering whether to resume strikes on Iran after the upcoming midterm elections.
Source: The Jerusalem Post
