WASHINGTON: Senior officials in President Donald Trump’s administration, led by Vice President JD Vance, are urging the White House to pursue diplomacy with Iran before authorising any military strikes, the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday.
According to US officials cited in the report, the White House is weighing a proposal from Tehran to resume talks over Iran’s nuclear programme, even as Trump considers possible military action in response to escalating unrest inside Iran.
A spokesperson for Vice President Vance disputed the report’s framing, saying multiple options are being presented to the president.
“Vice President Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are jointly presenting a full range of options — from diplomacy to military action — without bias or preference,” Vance’s communications director William Martin said.
The developments come as Iran confirmed it is keeping communication channels open with Washington. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said discussions with US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff have continued before and after nationwide protests in Iran.
“Communications are ongoing,” Araqchi told Al Jazeera, adding that Tehran is reviewing US proposals, though he said they remain incompatible with Washington’s threats.
Despite diplomatic signals, Trump has intensified pressure on Tehran. Late Monday, he announced a 25% tariff on exports to the US from any country doing business with Iran, calling the decision “final and conclusive” in a social media post. The White House has not provided legal details or clarified whether the measure would apply to all of Iran’s trading partners.
Iran’s mission to the United Nations declined to comment on the tariff announcement. Iran, already under extensive US sanctions, exports most of its oil to China, with Türkiye, Iraq, the UAE and India among its major trade partners.
Meanwhile, reports from inside Iran indicate that Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet remains partially operational despite a nationwide communications blackout imposed by authorities. Residents in border areas and western Iran said dozens of users continue to access the service.
Internet monitoring group NetBlocks confirmed that Starlink connectivity in Iran is limited but not fully cut off. “It’s patchy, but still there,” said NetBlocks founder Alp Toker.