JD Vance Leads Iran Talks as 2028 Rivalry With Marco Rubio Sharpens
Updated
Updated · The Associated Press · Jun 30
JD Vance Leads Iran Talks as 2028 Rivalry With Marco Rubio Sharpens
3 articles · Updated · The Associated Press · Jun 30
Summary
JD Vance took the lead in U.S.-Iran negotiations, heading an inconclusive April meeting in Pakistan and talks in Switzerland this month after Washington and Tehran signed a memorandum of understanding.
Trump administration officials said Marco Rubio declined to lead the first ceasefire talks because he doubted an acceptable Iran deal was possible, while Vance pressed Trump twice to let him take the role.
The split has been most visible on the Middle East: Vance has criticized Israeli actions in Lebanon as complicating Iran diplomacy, while Rubio has stayed supportive of Israel and led Lebanon talks that produced a preliminary framework last week.
Both men publicly deny any rift, but their contrasting foreign-policy instincts are drawing attention as possible 2028 Republican contenders and as Trump openly toys with the succession question.
That jockeying comes as the Iran truce remains fragile after repeated exchanges of fire, raising the stakes for Vance on a negotiation Trump has suggested he could be blamed for if it fails.