US Vice President J. Dee Vance sent a letter, at the behest of President Donald Trump, to the Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, Mohsen Razai, seeking to revive negotiations and reach a peace agreement with Tehran. Washington believes Razai is in direct contact with Supreme Leader Mujtaba Khamenei and has been communicating with him since receiving the letter. The initiative reflects a US strategy to engage directly with Iranian hardliners, with Razai acting as an intermediary for Khamenei. It also suggests that US officials believe Khamenei remains alive and exercising authority. However, some Iranian lawmakers criticized the initiative, arguing that negotiations before the upcoming US election would benefit Trump politically. Meanwhile, Qatari mediators arrived in Tehran on Friday to promote diplomatic efforts between Washington and Tehran.

US Vice President J. Dee Vance sent a letter, at the behest of President Donald Trump, to the Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, Mohsen Razai, seeking to revive negotiations and reach a peace agreement with Tehran. Washington believes Razai is in direct contact with Supreme Leader Mujtaba Khamenei and has been communicating with him since receiving the letter. The initiative reflects a US strategy to engage directly with Iranian hardliners, with Razai acting as an intermediary for Khamenei. It also suggests that US officials believe Khamenei remains alive and exercising authority. However, some Iranian lawmakers criticized the initiative, arguing that negotiations before the upcoming US election would benefit Trump politically. Meanwhile, Qatari mediators arrived in Tehran on Friday to promote diplomatic efforts between Washington and Tehran.