Trump claims Vance contacted Iran for medical aid, not peace talks
The president rejected reports that the vice president wrote to Tehran to revive negotiations, saying the move was intended to secure supplies for patients.
By Yara Nasser ·
President Donald Trump told reporters on Wednesday that Vice President JD Vance’s recent communication with Iran was designed to secure medical supplies for the country, not to restart peace negotiations. This explanation came after US media outlets reported that Vance had written to Tehran’s top security official in an effort to revive diplomatic talks. Trump specifically denied directing the outreach, stating that he merely approved the action after Vance asked for his opinion.
Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency reported on Thursday that Tehran has received the letter but has not yet responded. The Wall Street Journal and the New York Times reported on Wednesday that Vance sent the message to Mohsen Rezaei, the head of Iran’s Security Council, citing US officials and people familiar with the matter. The Wall Street Journal noted that Vance sent the letter at Trump’s direction, a detail the president disputed when questioned by reporters.
Trump described the purpose of the contact as a humanitarian effort to get supplies to people who were not well. He said, “Basically, it’s getting supplies in to help people that are not well.” Both Vance’s office and Iran’s mission to the United Nations in New York did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the letter or the president's remarks.
The diplomatic overture comes against the backdrop of a conflict that began at the end of February when the United States and Israel launched a war against Iran. Since the start of the hostilities, the US has imposed a naval blockade on Iran to cut off oil export revenue and has intensified efforts to economically isolate the nation. Iran has frequently cited US sanctions as the primary reason for its civilians' lack of access to essential goods.
In an August letter to the UN Security Council, Iran accused the US of intentionally depriving civilians of food, medicines, medical equipment, and energy. The letter stated that these restrictions had grave consequences for the population's rights to life and health. More recently, Qatari mediators presented Iran with a new draft deal on Sunday to end the war, but a senior Iranian official said the proposal from Doha contained unacceptable ideas and did not amount to a formal offer.
The war has also created economic pressure that affects domestic politics. Rising global energy costs have weighed on support for Republican candidates and hurt Trump’s approval ratings. These dynamics are particularly relevant ahead of the US midterm elections, which will determine control of Congress. Trump’s Republican Party currently holds a narrow majority in both chambers of the legislature.
