US VP Vance spoke to Pakistani intermediaries about Iran conflict as recently as Tuesday: source

Vance ​signals privately that Trump is open to a ceasefire ⁠as long as certain US demands are met

United States Vice President JD Vance ​communicated with intermediaries from Pakistan about the Iran conflict ‌as recently as Tuesday, a person briefed on the matter told Reuters, a sign of his expanding role in efforts to broker an ​end to the conflict.

At President Donald Trump's direction, Vance ​signalled privately that Trump was open to a ceasefire ⁠as long as certain US demands were met, the ​source told Reuters on Wednesday.

Vance also delivered what the source described ​as a "stern message" that Trump was impatient, warning there would be growing pressure on Iranian infrastructure unless Tehran agreed to a deal.

Read More: Iran rubbishes Trump’s ‘baseless’ claim its ‘new regime’ president asked for ceasefire

Pakistan has ​been acting as an intermediary between the US and ​Iran, the source said.

Vance has taken a greater role in trying to ‌negotiate ⁠an end to the war, now in its fifth week.

Widely viewed as a potential successor to Trump in the 2028 presidential election, Vance has taken a cautious approach on the ​conflict, reflecting his ​long-held scepticism of ⁠prolonged US military involvement overseas.

The source said the team that Trump has said are involved in negotiations — ​Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and US ​envoys ⁠Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner — remain involved.

Trump has warned the US would attack Iranian infrastructure, but has delayed launching such attacks ⁠on ​Iran's power grid until April 6 ​in hopes of reaching a deal with Tehran.