WASHINGTON: US Vice President J.D. Vance communicated with intermediaries from Pakistan about the Iran conflict as recently as Tuesday, a person briefed on the matter told Reuters, a sign of his expanding role in efforts to broker an end to the conflict.
At President Donald Trump’s direction, Vance signaled privately that Trump was open to a ceasefire as long as certain US demands were met, the source told Reuters on Wednesday.
Vance also delivered what the source described as a “stern message” that Trump was impatient, warning there would be growing pressure on Iranian infrastructure unless Tehran agreed to a deal.
Pakistan has been acting as an intermediary between the United States and Iran, the source said.
Vance has taken a greater role in trying to negotiate an end to the war, now in its fifth week.
Widely viewed as a potential successor to Trump in the 2028 presidential election, Vance has taken a cautious approach on the conflict, reflecting his long-held skepticism of prolonged US military involvement overseas.
The source said the team that Trump has said are involved in negotiations — Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner— remain involved.
Trump has warned the US would attack Iranian infrastructure but has delayed launching such attacks on Iran’s power grid until April 6 in hopes of reaching a deal with Tehran.
