What we know of Vance’s letter to Rezaei, as Trump warns Gulf to ‘prepare’

What the report says

Al Jazeera reports that US Vice President JD Vance has sent a letter to Mohsen Rezaei, who heads Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, in what appears to be a last-minute effort to restart dialogue and avoid another round of US strikes on Iran. The message was relayed through Qatari intermediaries, and several US outlets said it focused on whether Washington and Tehran could build enough common ground to reopen talks rather than laying out detailed peace terms.

According to the reporting, the letter proposed a near-term meeting between US and Iranian officials, with Vance potentially leading the American delegation again. The nuclear programme was said to be part of the agenda from the start, and possible venues mentioned in the coverage include Qatar or Türkiye. Iran has not issued a public response, but officials quoted by the media said the letter was received positively and that Rezaei is expected to reply.

The outreach comes amid heightened regional tension. Al Jazeera says Trump has warned Gulf partners to prepare for a short but intense military campaign after the US midterm elections, while Iran has signalled it could retaliate against any new attacks by targeting infrastructure in the Gulf. The article places the diplomatic move within a broader contest between pressure and negotiation, with analysts suggesting Vance is viewed in Tehran as a more credible messenger than other US officials, though his influence over Trump remains limited.