Vance has closely tied himself to the fragile U.S.-Iran peace talks. This week, the ceasefire broke down, the U.S. launched a new round of strikes against Iran, and oil prices surged again—adding fresh challenges for Republicans anxious about the midterm elections, while also making the political risks of this gamble more pronounced. Vance is more closely associated with the Iran war than any other political figure, but his aides and allies believe that once hostilities continue, his earlier skepticism about the conflict and his public questioning of whether Iran could be trusted to pursue peace will ultimately serve as his "lifeline." His position as a central negotiator, combined with his open doubts about Iran’s intentions, allows him to earn praise when talks make progress—and to say, “I told you so,” when they stall. This posture earns him points among both factions within the Republican Party—one eager to end the war immediately, the other more hawkish and advocating for renewed bombing campaigns. Most importantly, for Vance and his allies, he has never shown disloyalty to Trump.
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Original article: toutiao.com/article/1870482383841289/
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