Trump Weighs Vance as Iran Negotiator

0:00On March 24, President Trump is weighing the use of Vice President J.D. Vance as a key negotiator in talks with Iran to end the escalating Middle East conflict. He announced a five-day ceasefire on strikes against Iranian energy sites after promising discussions with special envoys Steve Wyckoff and Jared Kushner set to lead initial meetings. Vance might step in to seal any agreement. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has pushed Trump to keep fighting, viewing the war as a chance to reshape the region and even suggesting ground, troops to target energy assets. Iran shows little interest in diplomacy, with officials rejecting claims of active peace talks and potential envoys like Foreign Minister Abbas, Iraqis staying sidelined. Markets cheered the ceasefire news at first, with the Dow jumping 1,000 points in pre-market trading, the S&P 500 and Nasdaq each, up over 2 percent, and oil prices dropping 10 percent.

1:00But gas prices have climbed to an average of $4.00 a gallon nationwide from $2.90 before the war started three weeks ago. Strikes quickly resumed, with U.S. and Israeli attacks hitting Iranian gas facilities and a pipeline, prompting Iran to fire ballistic missiles at Tel. Aviv and Kuwait, plus American bases in the Gulf. Oil prices rebounded above $100 a barrel, as tensions spiked. Iran's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, through which one-fifth of global oil flows, remains their biggest bargaining chip, enforced cheaply with drones and boats. Trump has threatened to bomb power grids or seize key islands unless it's reopened, leaving the path to peace uncertain, as both sides dig in.