Following the publication of reports on the sending of a letter by J. Dee Vance, Vice President of the United States, to Mosen Razai, Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council of the Islamic Republic, The New York Times reported on Thursday that direct negotiations between Tehran and Washington may begin next week in Qatar or Turkey. According to the New York Times, citing Iranian and American officials, if Vance's offer is accepted by Tehran, negotiations would technically begin without preconditions. However, Vance stressed in his letter that the Islamic Republic's nuclear program should be on the table from the start of negotiations. A U.S. official told The New York Times that Washington decided to send the letter to Razai because U.S. officials decided they needed to speak directly to someone in the Islamic Republic's leadership structure who has influence over the hardline faction opposed to the accord and the Revolutionary Guards. The New York Times reported that Donald Trump read and approved the letter before sending it to Tehran. This newspaper also mentioned recent diplomatic efforts by the authorities of Qatar, Pakistan, Turkey and Saudi Arabia to reduce tensions. According to two Iranian officials, the mediators expressed concern in these meetings about the risk of chaos and destruction in the region if conflicts resume. The region's leaders have asked the Islamic Republic to show more flexibility in its nuclear program to avoid war. This diplomatic effort comes as Trump is considering the possibility of renewing military strikes against the Islamic Republic, including attacks on energy infrastructure and other vital centers of Iran's economy.

Following the publication of reports on the sending of a letter by J. Dee Vance, Vice President of the United States, to Mosen Razai, Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council of the Islamic Republic, The New York Times reported on Thursday that direct negotiations between Tehran and Washington may begin next week in Qatar or Turkey. According to the New York Times, citing Iranian and American officials, if Vance's offer is accepted by Tehran, negotiations would technically begin without preconditions. However, Vance stressed in his letter that the Islamic Republic's nuclear program should be on the table from the start of negotiations. A U.S. official told The New York Times that Washington decided to send the letter to Razai because U.S. officials decided they needed to speak directly to someone in the Islamic Republic's leadership structure who has influence over the hardline faction opposed to the accord and the Revolutionary Guards. The New York Times reported that Donald Trump read and approved the letter before sending it to Tehran. This newspaper also mentioned recent diplomatic efforts by the authorities of Qatar, Pakistan, Turkey and Saudi Arabia to reduce tensions. According to two Iranian officials, the mediators expressed concern in these meetings about the risk of chaos and destruction in the region if conflicts resume. The region's leaders have asked the Islamic Republic to show more flexibility in its nuclear program to avoid war. This diplomatic effort comes as Trump is considering the possibility of renewing military strikes against the Islamic Republic, including attacks on energy infrastructure and other vital centers of Iran's economy.