According to CoinMeta and The Wall Street Journal, American officials and sources familiar with the matter revealed that US Vice President Mike Pence is in contact with Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ebrahim Raisi in an attempt to restart peace talks. Pence has written to Raisi under Trump’s instructions, exploring whether both the US and Iran can find enough common ground to persuade Trump not to order a short but intense strike against Iran in the coming weeks. Some American officials believe that engaging with Iran’s hardliners might yield better diplomatic results. Pence’s letter and subsequent discussions between US and Iranian officials did not cover the specifics of a peace plan, but rather focused on a possible framework for negotiations. Raisi stated last week that Iran would not negotiate with Washington until Iran’s core demands are met. A spokesperson for Pence declined to comment on the negotiations, while a spokesperson for Iran’s Foreign Ministry said they were unaware of Pence’s recent contacts.