Reuters: Iran counting on Vance as key negotiator in talks

When JD Vance arrives in Islamabad for talks on Saturday with Iranian officials, it will fulfill a wish for Tehran's remaining leaders, some of whom have quietly sought the US vice president to take a lead role in negotiations to end the war, according to several sources familiar with the matter, Report informs via Reuters.

Iran views Vance as one of the most anti-war figures in President Donald Trump's inner circle, said one regional official and four people familiar with the talks.

That reputation, long a fixture of his political brand, has led Tehran to believe Vance is the most likely among Trump's close associates to seek a deal in good faith, said the sources, who requested anonymity to discuss sensitive diplomatic matters.

There is no indication Vance would adopt a more accommodating negotiating stance than any other representative sent by Trump, who has threatened to renew the US bombing campaign if talks fail.

A White House official said it was Trump's decision alone to send Vance to Pakistan for the talks, and that the president will make the final call about what deal is acceptable.

But the vice president's presence - and whether Tehran's instincts about him are right - will nonetheless be one factor determining whether the first face-to-face talks since the war broke out on February 28 have a shot at succeeding.

The stakes are high for Iran and the Trump administration, which is seeking an off-ramp to an unpopular war seven months before competitive midterm elections in November.

Vance, an early frontrunner for the 2028 Republican presidential nomination, stands to benefit politically if talks succeed.