Vance links US-Iran ceasefire to nuclear talks in letter to Rezaei
CENTCOM simultaneously refutes Iranian claims that sea mines are blocking the Strait of Hormuz, stating all primary routes remain clear.
By Samir Patterson ·
The number of commercial vessels currently using the Strait of Hormuz transit lanes is in the thousands, according to US Central Command.
In a letter to Iran's national security chief Mohsen Rezaei, US Vice President JD Vance stated that negotiations to halt potential US strikes would require discussions on the nuclear issue. Axios reported on Wednesday, citing a US official, that the communication was the most senior-level outreach from Washington to Tehran in several months.
President Donald Trump described the letter as something he was enthusiastic about. The note focused on the possibility of restarting ceasefire negotiations. It is unknown when the communication was sent. Trump is considering resuming strikes on Iran following the upcoming US midterm elections.
Rezaei holds a direct line to Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei. On Tuesday, Rezaei met with Khamenei after holding talks with representatives of Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan. This meeting marked the first high-level contact between Iran and those three nations.
CENTCOM denied reports from Iranian media claiming commercial vessels were hitting sea mines while transiting the strait. In a post on X on Wednesday, the command stated that all internationally recognized primary transit routes have been cleared of sea mines by US forces and remain so. The command added that thousands of commercial vessels have safely used the lanes and continue to do so today.
