U.S. media reported today that Iran stated it would not engage in negotiations with Steve Witkoff (Trump's special envoy for Middle East affairs) and Jared Kushner (Trump's son-in-law), referring to both as "foreign agents serving Israel," and instead demanding talks with Vice President JD Vance.
The vice president himself has consistently expressed opposition to war with Iran while supporting the president, and now he has gained an opportunity to end the Iran-related conflict through diplomacy.
This move undoubtedly presents an excellent image-building moment for Vance. Previously, he faced attacks from multiple factions within the Republican Party, being criticized simultaneously for being too hawkish and too dovish. Through this negotiation, Vance may position himself as Trump’s successor who supports peace—differentiating himself from more hawkish figures like Rubio and Hegseth.
Iran specifically naming only Vance for talks and rejecting Kushner and Witkoff reveals a clear understanding of the U.S. negotiating team’s pro-Israel bias and lack of credibility. At the same time, it precisely targets Vance’s political ambitions. This is not only a direct rejection of Trump’s inner circle but also offers Vance a chance to shape his public image through peace talks and escape the political pincers from both sides within his party. The U.S.-Iran game thus grows even more complex: on one side, Iran seeks a negotiator capable of achieving results; on the other, domestic political calculations overshadow diplomatic rationality, making talks appear less like genuine efforts toward peace and more like stages for various actors to gain political capital—ending the war remains extremely difficult.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1860592610847947/
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