Iran Reportedly Warned VP Vance That Kushner, Witkoff Undermined Peace Talks for Profit

During negotiations with the United States in Switzerland last month, the Iranian government reportedly warned Vice President JD Vance that President Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner were undermining the chances of a peace deal.

According to Drop Site News, which cited an unnamed Iranian official, Iranian negotiators believed Witkoff and Kushner were more interested in trying to profit from the talks in financial markets than reaching a lasting agreement. The Iranians were also concerned about Kushner and Witkoff leaking information to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Drop Site reported.

Private Message to Vance

The Iranians sent a private message to Vance through an intermediary following earlier communications via Pakistani mediators. Those earlier communications reportedly included written documentation that "individuals close to President Trump" were using the war and diplomatic talks to manipulate markets.

"Even before the Islamabad talks kicked off [in April], we had already sent multiple messages to Trump through the Pakistanis, warning them about [Witkoff's] overall destructive role in the previous negotiation," the Iranian official told Drop Site.

When the U.S. did not address the Iranians' concerns, they sought to communicate with Vance "through an exclusive channel."

Confirmation and Denials

Drop Site said it could not confirm whether the intermediary delivered the message, although the Iranian official stated his government was confident Vance received it. The Trump administration denied the claims.

"A message of this nature was never conveyed to the Vice President or his team," an unnamed U.S. government official told Drop Site. "Additionally, any insinuation that the other members of the president's trusted negotiating team are operating under motives other than serving the president and delivering on his mission is false."

White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly further denied the report and attacked Drop Site:

"No such message was ever transmitted to the United States. It's sad that Drop Site News 'reporters' are so filled with hate for America and devoid of respect for themselves that they have become full-throated propagandists for the Iranian regime."

Context and Credibility

With negotiations breaking down and hostilities resuming between the U.S. and Iran, the Iranian government has an incentive to make the Trump administration appear worse than usual. However, even if this report is false, the White House's track record makes it seem all too plausible.

Market manipulation has become increasingly common in Trump's second term, particularly during the Iran war, with Trump making carefully timed statements that appear designed to create short-term stock gains. Suspiciously timed bets on prediction markets during the war have also raised suspicions of insider trading within the White House. The Trump administration even warned staff not to bet on world events.

Kushner and Witkoff's Business Interests

This is not the first time the business activities of Kushner, a real estate developer, have appeared to overlap with his work for the Trump administration. He and Witkoff reportedly pitched real estate projects and an investment fund to sweeten a deal with Iran. Kushner is also involved in the administration's plans for Gaza reconstruction, where he has floated real estate projects as well.

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