In the corridors of power in Washington, a figure is gradually taking on the weight of a mission that could determine the course of an entire conflict.
JD Vance, once a skeptical voice against long-term military interventions, is now at the center of efforts to negotiate peace with Iran.
His role did not come by chance. From the beginning of the crisis, he had doubts about the allies' optimism for a quick victory. He questioned the duration, the costs, what came next. But when the decision to go to war was made by Donald Trump, Vance did not stay in the shadows - he supported the use of force to end the conflict as quickly as possible.
Now, ironically, he is the man who has to finish it at the table.
In recent days, Vance has been in constant contact with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, met with allies in the Persian Gulf and has been part of indirect communications with Tehran. Within the US administration, he is seen as the figure best suited to lead the negotiations – not because of his toughness, but because of his pragmatism.
But this makes his role even more complicated.
Behind the scenes, there are tensions. Some in Israel allegedly see Vance as too willing to compromise. A difficult phone call with Netanyahu — in which he questioned optimistic predictions about the overthrow of the Iranian regime — appears to have deepened those mistrusts.
Meanwhile, diplomacy is moving at a cautious pace. Pakistan, Egypt and Turkey are trying to broker a direct meeting. If that moment comes, Vance could sit down with Tehran's top figures — perhaps even Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.
But the clock is ticking.
If diplomacy fails, military options remain on the table. And that is precisely the dilemma that defines Vance's role: how to avoid a long war without appearing weak; how to reach an agreement without undermining the American position or its allies.
In the end, everything comes down to a delicate balance. Vance is not just a negotiator – he is the bridge between two opposing logics: force and diplomacy.
And if he fails, the consequences won't just be political. They could determine the fate of an entire region.