JD Vance joins Pakistan in US-Iran mediation efforts

US President Donald Trump has acknowledged the involvement of Vice President JD Vance in diplomatic efforts with Iran, as part of a mediation process facilitated by Pakistan.

At a press conference at the White House on Monday, Trump stated that there is an “active, willing participant” on the other side of the negotiations. He also mentioned that the proposal currently being discussed is “a significant step,” but later clarified that it is not sufficient.

Trump confirmed that Vance, along with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, is part of the administration’s lead negotiators for the conflict. This marks a public acknowledgment of Vance’s role in the diplomatic efforts, which have been ongoing through backchannels for several days.

The US president had previously threatened to bomb Iran’s power and energy facilities if Tehran did not reopen the Strait of Hormuz by early Wednesday. Trump also made a profanity-laced statement on his Truth Social platform over the weekend, followed by an escalation of apocalyptic rhetoric on Tuesday.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps responded to Trump’s statements by warning that all restraints against targets would be lifted if he escalated militarily.

Sources close to the mediation efforts reported that attempts to get the US and Iran to agree to a Pakistani proposal for a two-stage halt to the war are still ongoing. The proposal, which includes a two-stage halt to hostilities, is being discussed between the US and Iranian delegations facilitated by Pakistan.

Pakistan has led an intensive mediation effort since late March, involving foreign ministers from Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt. The country’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, spoke with Vance, special envoy Steve Witkoff, and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in a call the night before Trump’s statement.

The US delegation led by Vance was twice prepared to travel to Islamabad for direct discussions with their Iranian counterparts, but both visits were cancelled at the last moment due to Tehran’s request for more time for internal deliberations.

Source: Al Jazeera