The United States has outlined what it wants from Iran in a message delivered by Vice President JD Vance to Iranian National Security Council chief Mohsen Rezaei, as the White House grows increasingly concerned that the opportunity to reach a negotiated settlement with Tehran may be slipping away.
According to The Washington Post, which cited a US official familiar with the communication, Vance’s message focused on the fundamental interests of both Washington and Tehran, setting out what each country stands to gain from negotiations.
Rather than concentrating exclusively on American demands, Vance reportedly told Rezaei that Iran’s national interests lie in rebuilding its economy and safeguarding its sovereignty.
For Washington, however, the central objective remains unchanged: ensuring that Iran does not acquire a nuclear weapon.
The message suggests that the Trump administration is attempting to establish a framework for negotiations around what it considers the essential priorities of both countries, even as doubts grow in Washington about the prospects of reaching an agreement.
Washington Wants Iranian Negotiators With Real Authority
Beyond outlining the interests of both sides, Vance reportedly stressed a specific requirement for any future negotiations: Iran must appoint representatives who have the authority to negotiate nuclear matters.
The American official said Vance emphasised the importance of Tehran sending individuals empowered to engage in substantive discussions on the nuclear issue.
The demand reflects Washington’s insistence that any negotiating process involve Iranian representatives capable of making decisions on the central issue separating the two countries.
But the Trump administration’s expectations extend beyond the composition of a negotiating delegation.
According to the official, Washington believes Mohsen Rezaei is the only figure capable of building the necessary consensus around negotiations with the United States.
That assessment places Rezaei at the centre of Washington’s diplomatic calculations, suggesting that the administration regards his involvement as particularly important to the prospects of an eventual agreement.
The White House Believes the Window for an Agreement Is Narrowing
Despite the communication between Vance and Rezaei, the American official indicated that optimism within the White House is limited.
The Trump administration believes the chances of reaching a settlement with Iran may be diminishing, raising questions about whether the two countries can establish a workable negotiating process before the diplomatic opportunity narrows further.
The reported message therefore carries two distinct elements: an American willingness to discuss the interests of both countries, including Iran’s economic recovery and sovereignty, and a firm insistence that Tehran engage through authorised representatives on the nuclear issue.
The official also identified Istanbul and Doha as the two leading potential locations for a meeting between Vance and Rezaei, should the two sides agree to hold direct talks.
No confirmed meeting was identified in the account.
The possibility of negotiations in either Türkiye or Qatar remains dependent on whether Washington and Tehran can move towards direct engagement, with the White House reportedly concerned that the opportunity to secure a settlement is becoming increasingly limited.
