US Vice President JD Vance leads backchannel talks with Iran to revive ceasefire

US Vice President <b>JD Vance</b> has spent the past fortnight directly engaged in indirect negotiations with Iran aimed at brokering a new ceasefire and resuming stalled nuclear discussions. According to Axios reports citing sources, the diplomatic engagement has gathered pace through Qatari and Pakistani mediators. Daily discussions with regional mediators have accelerated, although officials describe progress towards a possible agreement as extremely sluggish. The diplomatic push comes as Donald Trump keeps military options open while administration officials navigate the complex geopolitical landscape. The vice president's direct involvement elevates the indirect track to the highest echelons of the administration. Officials note this underscores an initiative by <b>JD Vance</b> to extricate Washington from an ongoing conflict.