A man who once called the Iran nuclear deal ‘defective at its core’ is now steering the diplomatic ship. Sources confirm that US Vice President J.D.
Vance has become the unlikely point man for a revived nuclear framework with Tehran, operating under the long shadow of President Donald Trump. The British Foreign Office has been scrambling to read the tea leaves since Sunday, when Vance convened a closed-door session with European envoys in Geneva. My sources tell me the UK has quietly circulated a risk assessment warning that Vance’s involvement could signal a ‘more transactional, less transparent’ approach than the 2015 deal.
Uncovered diplomatic cables show that British officials are particularly worried about the removal of snapback sanctions mechanisms. ‘Vance is a self-described realist, but we’re not sure what his endgame is,’ one Foreign Office insider confided. The irony is thick enough to cut: the same man who campaigned on dismantling Obama’s signature accord is now the one shaking hands with Iran’s deputy foreign minister.
And President Trump? His social media posts remain a steady stream of tariffs and grievances, but not a word on the nuclear talks. The White House press secretary declined to comment, but a senior administration source said Vance has ‘full authority to negotiate.
’ The UK’s assessment, marked official-sensitive and obtained by this newsroom, concludes that while Vance’s involvement might push Iran to the table, it could also alienate hardliners in Tehran who see him as a proxy of Trump’s maximalist pressure campaign. One British diplomat put it bluntly: ‘We’re dealing with an unpredictable partner in Washington, and that’s never good for diplomacy.’ The Treasury is also watching closely; leaked documents show the UK is bracing for new sanctions evasion schemes if the deal goes through.
As of press time, Iran’s mission to the UN denied any direct talks with Vance. But my sources say the cheques are already being written. The question isn’t whether a deal will come, but how much of a mess it leaves behind.
