Trump Tasks VP Vance With Leading US Effort to End Iran War

Axios reports that at Thursday's cabinet meeting, President Trump formally tasked Vice President JD Vance with leading US efforts to end the war with Iran. Vance, who had previously expressed skepticism about starting the conflict, has since held multiple calls with Benjamin Netanyahu and participated in indirect communications with Iranian officials. A White House official told Axios that Vance's track record of opposing endless wars makes him a more attractive negotiator for Tehran than Kushner or Witkoff, adding: "If the Iranians can’t make a deal with Vance, they can’t make a deal with anyone — he’s the best they’re going to get." However, Axios noted that Vance's advisors believe some in Israel are trying to undermine him due to his "not aggressive enough" approach — a claim Israeli officials deny. At present, Vance expects the war to continue for several more weeks, and the White House has stressed that the ball is now in Iran's court to decide how to come to the negotiating table.