Berliner Tageblatt - Trump and Vance Pursue Secret Diplomacy with Iran Amid Military Pressure

President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance are coordinating behind-the-scenes efforts to negotiate a diplomatic resolution with Iran, balancing public military threats with private channels aimed at de-escalation. According to reports from the US portal Axios, Vance has been conducting indirect talks with Tehran for approximately two weeks.

The objective of these negotiations is to establish a new ceasefire and restart nuclear discussions. Trump has actively supported Vance’s role in these efforts, allowing him to test the viability of a deal with Teheran. On Friday, the President confirmed the engagement, stating simply, "We are talking to them."

Vance is maintaining close contact with key intermediaries, including Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani and Pakistani Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir. Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner are also participating in these discussions. Two weeks prior, Vance sent a letter to Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, proposing direct talks—a move that reportedly prompted new movement within the Iranian government.

This diplomatic push follows a history of skepticism toward military action within the Trump circle. Before the conflict began in late February, Vance was among the inner circle’s strongest critics of a military solution. He led the US negotiation team at a summit in Islamabad in April and helped facilitate an agreement between Washington and Teheran in June, which collapsed after Iranian Revolutionary Guard ships attacked again.

The current strategy employs a dual approach: Vance keeps the door open for a diplomatic deal while Trump utilizes military pressure as leverage. On Friday, Trump personally spoke with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani regarding mediation efforts. Simultaneously, the administration maintains its threat posture; Axios reports that if Trump deems the talks failed, the US military could resume attacks within a short timeframe. Last week, the US conducted secret airstrikes on Iran’s Keshm missile island.

The public divergence between the two leaders—where Vance warned against war and Trump emphasized pressure—may have been more strategic than substantive. The administration is now testing whether a negotiated settlement is possible while keeping the option of force on the table.

M.Ouellet--BTB