Iranupdated 49m ago2 min read
Mohsen Rezaei Says JD Vance Letter Changed Tone as Iran Reviews Nuclear Proposals
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Rezaei says US tone shifted to a positive, more conciliatory stance. Iranian foreign minister Araghchi calls Vance letter a positive step toward dialogue.
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Vance letter shifts tone
Iran’s security chief Mohsen Rezaei said the tone of a letter from US Vice President JD Vance had “changed completely,” describing it as a positive development as Tehran awaited Washington’s response. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told Al Jazeera that “The American side’s attempt to open the door to dialogue and understanding more broadly is a positive step,” while also saying Tehran was not yet ready for direct negotiations with American officials. Iran’s remarks came as mediators intensified efforts to avert renewed strikes, with the diplomatic push involving Qatari and Pakistani intermediaries and consultations that included talks in Tehran and then shifted to Doha.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Saturday that President Donald Trump had not made a decision on further strikes and that the administration remained open to a diplomatic solution. Rezaei did not disclose the contents of Vance’s letter, and Araghchi said Tehran was reviewing proposals concerning its nuclear programme.
Manama Dialogue warnings
At the 22nd IISS Manama Dialogue in Bahrain, GCC Secretary General Jasem Mohamed Al Budaiwi said the GCC states “still do” call for dialogue and negotiation to resolve issues in the region. Al Budaiwi added that “But diplomacy needs partners, partners who respond in kind,” and he said the six-member bloc maintained open channels with Iran alongside partnerships with Western powers, China, Russia and other countries. Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty warned that “The second round will be more dangerous, more destructive, and it will lead to nowhere,” and he said military action could unleash consequences beyond the control of those who initiated it.
Al Budaiwi called for navigation through the Strait of Hormuz to return to conditions before February 28, when the US-Iran war began, and he said disruptions to the strait had affected energy prices, shipping, insurance and global supply chains. Britain’s Middle East Minister Stephen Doughty said the UK had deployed air defense equipment and personnel to Saudi Arabia and that “We must strain every sinew for peace,” while promising continued diplomatic engagement.
Conditions still block talks
Iran’s position remained that the shift in Washington’s tone did not remove its conditions, and Mohsen Rezaei said in a video broadcast on Iranian television that “Their tone has completely changed,” while he said he “haven’t yet responded.” Araghchi told Al Jazeera that Tehran had studied the letter in high-level meetings and warned that if Washington’s objective was to “foment discord,” it would be “one more mistake to add to the previous ones.” Araghchi also said Tehran had “no plans to meet with American officials,” and he described circulating claims about such meetings as “mere media speculation.”
In parallel, mediators continued consultations on Iran’s conditions, and Araghchi said his aides were in Qatar while mediators in Qatar and Pakistan continued their consultations on those conditions. The diplomatic opening left unresolved disagreements over nuclear and sanctions issues, with Washington seeking nuclear concessions from Tehran while Iran sought relief from the US naval blockade, access to frozen funds and permission to resume oil sales.