Vance signals privately that Trump is open to a ceasefire as long as certain US demands are met
US Vice President JD Vance stands in the House Chamber prior to US President Donald Trump’s speech to a joint session of Congress at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, US, March 4, 2025.PHOTO: REUTERS
United States Vice President JD Vance communicated with intermediaries from Pakistan about the Iran conflict as recently as Tuesday, 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, Vance signalled privately that Trump was open to a ceasefire as long as certain US demands were met, the source told Reuters on Wednesday.
Vance also delivered what the source described as a “stern message” that Trump was impatient, warning there would be growing pressure on Iranian infrastructure unless Tehran agreed to a deal.
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Pakistan has been acting as an intermediary between the US and Iran, the source said.
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 Trump in the 2028 presidential election, 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 Trump has said are involved in negotiations — Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner — remain involved.
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.
