U.S. Vice President Vance initiates diplomatic contact with Iran to avert potential military strikes

U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance has sent a letter to Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, to initiate exploratory negotiations. According to a Wall Street Journal report on October 28, 2026, the diplomatic effort was ordered by President Donald Trump to determine if enough common ground exists to avoid a planned short but intensive U.S. military strike against Iran.

The potential military operation is being considered for the weeks following the November 3, 2026, U.S. midterm elections. Sources indicate that the current diplomatic initiative does not aim for a comprehensive peace agreement, but rather seeks to establish a framework for negotiations that could persuade President Trump to cancel the military campaign. This follows recent threats from the Republican administration regarding possible large-scale bombings, described by some sources as a potential follow-up to previous military actions.

The situation remains fluid as Washington evaluates Tehran's willingness to engage in dialogue. No immediate peace treaty is on the table, as the focus remains exclusively on de-escalation before the post-election period.