US pushes Vance-Ghalibaf talks as Trump, Netanyahu weigh Iran deal terms

A Turkish source told Al-Monitor Monday that the US has proposed talks between Vice President JD Vance and Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf. 

Both the proposal for the talks and the potential negotiations would happen through intermediaries that include Turkey, the regional source said. 

The development comes just hours after US President Donald Trump said Monday that special envoy Steve Witkoff is speaking to a "top person" in Iran. Trump did not specify who the person in Iran is, but Israeli outlets have reported that it is Ghalibaf. 

In a video address released later Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had spoken with Trump about the potential to reach a deal with Iran. 

Netanyahu said that Trump "thinks there is an opportunity to draw on recent military achievements to achieve the rest of the war's goals through an agreement." He added that "such an agreement will protect our interests." 

Israel’s Channel 12 reported that Netanyahu had also held a call with Vance to discuss a possible deal between the US and Iran. 

Earlier Monday, Trump declared a halt to strikes on Iranian energy facilities, citing progress in talks with Tehran.