The US asked China to use its influence with Iran to help end the war, The Washington Post reported on Friday 6 November, citing a knowledgeable US official. The report is relayed by Iran International, Dunya News and Shafaqna.
According to the Post, the Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent, made the request to Beijing with Trump's support, and China has passed the message on to Tehran. The Post says Trump also sought Xi Jinping's help on Iran when the two met in September.
The Post also reports that the Vice President, JD Vance, sent a conciliatory letter last month to Iran's security chief, Mohsen Rezaei. This adds to Axios's earlier account of Vance's role in indirect talks.
Ali Al Thawadi, the Qatari official described as the White House's intermediary with Tehran, is quoted in the Post as saying:
"They saw Vance's letter as a gesture of respect, and they appreciated that Vance said the war was a mistake."
He added: "Iranian leaders are waiting to see whether this election has really changed American behavior."
Trump, as quoted by Dunya News, said the US was talking to Iran and doing very well. He also claimed the Strait of Hormuz is fully open. That claim does not hold up. The Straits Daily Brief reports the strait is closed to commercial traffic, and IMF PortWatch recorded 1 transit on 1 November against a pre-crisis baseline of 85 a day.