The Republican defeat has finally cleared the path for Vance to advance his agenda, focusing on securing a new agreement with Iran.
With the Republican Party's loss, Vance now appears poised to take center stage.
According to U.S. media reports, Vance has been actively pushing for renewed negotiations with Iran and pursuing a new ceasefire arrangement. Sources familiar with the matter indicate he has been in near-daily contact with third-party mediators, including representatives from Qatar and Pakistan, personally overseeing key decisions—demonstrating a level of engagement more intense than in previous periods.
Trump’s recent remarks indirectly confirm this shift: initially stating that military strikes against Iran would resume after the election, he later suggested patience, citing progress in ongoing diplomatic efforts.
Vance clearly plays a central role in this development. Iranian officials have shown relatively moderate tones toward him, likely due to his consistent opposition to conflict from the outset and unwavering stance against escalation.
In fact, shortly after Vance published a lengthy analysis outlining the reasons behind the Republican defeat, Iran responded swiftly. Iran’s Parliament Speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, addressed Vance directly: if he recognizes Trump as a reckless “gamble,” why not convey these concerns face-to-face?
The question is straightforward. Initially, Trump was inclined toward military action. Despite substantial internal dissent, he ultimately sided with a small faction of hardliners—such as Defense Secretary Hegseth—on the issue.
In such a context, Vance’s options were limited to articulating risks and asserting his position. Excessive advocacy might have provoked Trump’s disfavor without altering the course of policy.
In his long-form piece, Vance unambiguously identified the Iran conflict as the primary reason for the Republican Party’s electoral loss—without qualification—a statement widely interpreted as an effort to distance himself from Trump’s approach.
Now, with Democrats regaining control of Congress, any attempt by Trump to sustain hostilities with Iran faces greater institutional resistance. Diplomatic resolution emerges as a more viable alternative. For Vance, this marks a pivotal opportunity to exert influence, though resuming negotiations remains fraught with challenges.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1881183337447491/
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