US weighs Istanbul, Doha for potential Vance-Rezaei talks: Washington Post

• Vance wants Tehran to appoint representatives authorized to negotiate nuclear issues.
• Washington views Rezaei as the key figure capable of building consensus for a potential deal.
• Istanbul and Doha are the leading proposed venues for a Vance-Rezaei meeting.
• The White House reportedly fears the opportunity for a diplomatic settlement is narrowing.
• The renewed diplomatic push comes amid concerns over a possible return to US military strikes.

The White House believes prospects for reaching a negotiated settlement with Iran may be diminishing, as US Vice President JD Vance has stressed the need for Tehran to appoint representatives with the authority to negotiate on nuclear issues, The Washington Post reported Friday, citing a US official.

According to the report, the Trump administration views former Iranian official Mohsen Rezaei as the only figure capable of building consensus within Iran around potential negotiations with Washington.

Vance has emphasized that any diplomatic engagement must involve Iranian representatives empowered to make decisions on behalf of the government, underscoring Washington's concerns over whether Tehran can present a unified negotiating position.

The report also identified Istanbul and Doha as the leading potential venues for a meeting between Vance and Rezaei, should the two sides proceed with direct talks.

The reported outreach comes amid renewed diplomatic efforts to prevent a resumption of US military operations against Iran. Vance recently sent a letter to Rezaei through Qatari intermediaries proposing renewed direct negotiations, with the nuclear programme identified as a central issue. 

Rezaei, a former commander of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, is now secretary of the Supreme National Security Council. US officials reportedly consider him an influential figure with sufficient connections within Iran's political and security establishment to secure backing for a potential agreement. 

The diplomatic initiative comes as tensions remain high, with Washington weighing further military action and regional mediators, particularly Qatar, seeking to bridge differences between the two sides. Previous negotiations involving Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf failed to produce a lasting agreement, with an earlier memorandum collapsing amid renewed hostilities in the Strait of Hormuz.

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