Vance to Iran security chief: 'Negotiations require discussions on nuclear issue' - report
In a letter to Iran's national security chief Mohsen Rezaei, US Vice President JD Vance stressed that negotiations to halt any potential US strikes would "require discussions on the nuclear issue,” Axios reported on Wednesday, citing a US official. The letter, which US President Donald Trump was “enthusiastic about,” according to Vance, focused on the possibility of restarting ceasefire negotiations between the US and Iran. Axios said The Wall Street Journal was the first to report it, though it is unknown when the communication was sent.Axios reported that it is the most senior-level outreach from Washington to Tehran in several months, and comes as Trump considers resuming strikes on Iran following the upcoming US midterm elections.
Rezaei is one of the top national security officials in Iran and has a direct line to Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, the report added. On Tuesday, Rezaei met with Khamenei after holding talks with representatives of Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan in the first high-level contact between Iran and the three nations.CENTCOM denies Iranian claims of commercial vessels hitting sea mines in HormuzEfforts to revisit ceasefire negotiations come as US Central Command (CENTCOM) denies reports from Iranian media that commercial vessels are hitting sea mines while transiting through the Strait of Hormuz.
Left out here: Leaves out what changes the picture
The article reports the outreach to Rezaei only through US officials. It never says that Rezaei had declared the week before that Iran would not negotiate until core demands were met. Without it a reader sees the nuclear issue as the only condition in play and does not know Iran's stated position on the talks.
How we know
- Ynet News (English) reported“Rezaei, however, declared last week that Iran would not negotiate with Washington until certain core demands had been met.”As US prepares for Iran strikes, Vance quietly opens diplomatic channel (opens in a new tab)
- The Guardian reported“Progress can only be achieved once Iran’s seven conditions have been agreed upon.”JD Vance letter may offer last chance to avert fresh conflict between US and Iran (opens in a new tab)
In a post on X/Twitter on Wednesday, CENTCOM said that “all internationally recognized primary transit routes through the Strait of Hormuz have been cleared of sea mines by US forces and remain so.” CLAIM: Over recent days and weeks, Iranian-controlled media have reported Iranian claims that commercial vessels are hitting sea mines while transiting the Strait of Hormuz. These claims are FALSE. ✅ FACT: All internationally recognized primary transit routes through the Strait of Hormuz have been cleared of sea mines by U.S. forces and remain so.
Thousands of commercial vessels have safely used the transit lanes and continue today.— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) October 28, 2026“Thousands of commercial vessels have safely used the transit lanes and continue today,” it concluded.
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