Vance Letter to Iran's Rezaei Seeks Talks; Trump Says It Was About Medical Aid

Vice President JD Vance sent a letter to Mohsen Rezaei, head of Iran's Security Council, proposing an immediate resumption of comprehensive peace talks, including on Iran's nuclear program, according to reports led by the Wall Street Journal. It is the most senior-level U.S. outreach to Iran in several months. On Wednesday, President Donald Trump denied directing it, telling reporters on his way to a midterm rally in Ohio that Iran needs medical supplies and that Vance asked his view and he said that was fine. Axios had reported Trump was enthusiastic about the strategy. Trump has hinted he will resume military operations against Iran after the midterm elections next Tuesday. Separately, Reuters reported that Qatar gave Iran a new U.S. draft deal on Sunday to end the eight-month war. A senior Iranian official later called it unacceptable and said Tehran would show no flexibility on the nuclear issue.

Right-leaning outlets split on emphasis. The Washington Examiner leads with Trump's denial, quotes his medical-supplies remarks, and adds that Vance is seen as more noninterventionist than Trump and has acknowledged disagreements over the war. Newsmax leads with Vance courting an Iranian hard-liner while Trump threatens new strikes. Left-leaning coverage in these articles is thinner: The New York Times headlines the proposal to restart talks and highlights the letter's nuclear component, without Trump's denial in the excerpt. The New Republic's piece is about Vance's remarks on an Alaska Senate election lawsuit, not Iran. Both sides agree Vance wrote to Rezaei; they differ on whether the lead is the letter or Trump's rebuttal. Middle East Eye mirrors the denial angle, while ZeroHedge adds Qatar's draft deal and Iran's rejection.