In a bid to address the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, Iran has expressed a preference for negotiating with U.S. Vice President JD Vance, following a 15-point ceasefire proposal sent by former President Donald Trump. Iranian officials have signaled a desire to deal with Vance over prominent Middle East envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, whom they accuse of betraying them in past negotiations. Sources revealed to CNN that Iran perceives Vance as more committed to resolving the conflict than his counterparts, who are viewed with suspicion.

Tehran’s rejection of Kushner and Witkoff stems from the belief that their previous diplomatic efforts were ineffective and led to subsequent hostilities from the U.S. and Israel. Refusing to re-enter talks with them, Iranian envoys have reportedly articulated a clear preference for Vance, according to two regional insiders cited by CNN. Despite this, it’s understood that Iran might ultimately have no choice but to engage with Witkoff, given his deep involvement in U.S. Middle Eastern affairs. “Whoever the administration sends, Iran will have to engage with,” noted another source, acknowledging that Iran’s preferences may not influence the U.S. decision.

President Trump, however, has hinted at the possibility of Vance spearheading the discussions. Meanwhile, Kushner and Witkoff are reportedly crafting a framework that includes a month-long ceasefire period for negotiations, as shared with Israel’s Channel 12. The New York Times confirmed the existence of the 15-point plan, based on Trump’s previous Gaza deal, which calls for Iran to dismantle its nuclear and missile capabilities, open the Strait of Hormuz, and sever ties with regional proxy groups. In exchange, Iran would receive support for its civilian nuclear program and relief from international sanctions. Pakistan has conveyed this proposal to Iran with a 24-hour ultimatum, according to reports from Haaretz. Trump has remarked that Iran has stepped back from its nuclear ambitions, with Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio poised to lead peace discussions. “They’re engaging with us seriously,” the President commented during a press briefing.

Multiple sources said Iran and the United States could stage talks in Islamabad, Pakistan this week but are doubtful they materialize. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has urged Trump to press on with the war , privately describing the conflict as a ‘historic opportunity’ to remake the region and pushing for US troops to seize Iranian energy sites and topple the regime. Tehran may send Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi to any talks, though he and other Iranian officials have signaled deep reluctance to engage, the WSJ reported. Witkoff and Kushner would likely lead formal negotiations, but Vance could step in to seal any agreement, a US official told the Wall Street Journal. US officials have suggested that Iran’s parliamentary speaker, Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf, a hardline regime figure, could meet with the Trump delegation in Pakistan. However, Ghalibaf is unlikely to leave Iran unless Vance also attends those talks, suggesting he may refuse to engage with Witkoff or Kushner. Trump announced on Monday a five-day ceasefire on all strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure after what he described as ‘very good conversations’ aimed at ending the war. Top Iranian officials flatly rejected his claim that peace talks are underway. The ceasefire did not last the night. Iranian state media reported US-Israeli strikes hit two gas facilities and a pipeline on Monday, prompting Tehran to launch ballistic missiles at central Tel Aviv and Kuwait.

Vance has also held private calls with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the question of negotiations with Tehran, according to multiple reports. The vice president built his political career by advocating against foreign wars abroad in the Middle East and is viewed within Trump’s inner circle as a non-interventionist voice. The Daily Mail has reached out to the White House and a spokesperson for Vance for further comment. Markets reacted positively to Trump’s ceasefire on Monday, with the Dow surging 1,000 points in pre-market trading, the S&P and Nasdaq each jumping more than 2 percent, while oil dropped 10 percent. Oil prices fell another five percent and Asian shares gained on Wednesday over possibilities of a de-escalation of the Iran war and negotiations between the United States and Iran. The Trump administration is said to have offered a 15-point ceasefire plan to Iran. Trump’s claims of progress being made from talks with Iran this week and his postponement on Monday of a deadline to ‘obliterate’ Iran’s power plants over the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz have also fueled optimism that an end to the Iran war could come soon. With the Strait of Hormuz being a key waterway for crude oil and liquefied natural gas transport, oil and gas prices have spiked and fluctuated in recent days.

Trump’s faltering ceasefire came after he threatened over the weekend to bomb Iran’s electricity grid unless the regime reopened the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours. Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz since the start of the war has caused a global oil and energy crisis. Gas prices have surged to an average of $4.00 a gallon nationwide up from $2.90 before the conflict began three weeks ago. The narrow strait – through which a fifth of the world’s oil flows – remains blocked by the threat of Iranian mines and missiles. Tehran has so far refused to promise any reopening. Iran’s stranglehold over Hormuz is seen as its greatest point of leverage over the US in the conflict. Closing the Strait of Hormuz has proven relatively inexpensive for the regime, relying on drones and explosive suicide boats to disrupt global shipping. Trump has also threatened to deploy US troops to seize Kharg Island in the Persian Gulf, through which 90 percent of Iran’s crude oil exports pass . While Iran has denied negotiations were taking place, and attacks in the Middle East continued, Pakistan has offered to host talks between Washington and Tehran. And as Trump raised optimism of a de-escalation of the war, at least 1,000 more American troops from the 82nd Airborne Division are said to be deployed to the Middle East in the coming days.