WASHINGTON — Former US National Security Adviser John Bolton has criticized President Donald Trump’s reported decision to dispatch Vice President JD Vance to Islamabad for diplomatic engagement linked to Iran, arguing that the move reflects strategic miscalculation and risks allowing Tehran to shape Washington’s negotiating posture.
Speaking in a recent political commentary, Bolton said the choice of Vance as a key interlocutor in sensitive discussions involving Iran was “a mistake,” claiming it could signal weakness in US diplomatic positioning.
Bolton argued that adversarial states such as Iran may attempt to exploit perceived divisions within Washington’s foreign policy establishment. He suggested that Tehran could view Vance as a more accessible negotiating partner due to his publicly expressed skepticism toward military escalation and preference for diplomatic solutions.
“In Bolton’s view, allowing an opponent to anticipate or influence the selection of a negotiator undermines leverage at the negotiating table,” he said in remarks summarizing his position.
The former Trump adviser further claimed that Iran’s leadership would be aware of Vance’s political stance on military intervention and could interpret his appointment as an opportunity to advance its own diplomatic objectives.
Bolton characterized the reported decision as part of a broader concern over what he sees as inconsistent US strategy toward Iran, warning that such approaches could weaken Washington’s bargaining power in regional security negotiations.
However, the White House has not publicly confirmed Bolton’s interpretation of the decision or provided detailed clarification on the role assigned to Vance in the Islamabad discussions.
JD Vance, a former US senator and current vice president, has been increasingly involved in foreign policy discussions under the Trump administration, particularly on issues related to conflict de-escalation and diplomatic engagement in the Middle East.
Iran has not officially responded to Bolton’s comments.
The remarks come amid heightened tensions in the region and ongoing diplomatic maneuvering involving US allies and adversaries, with Islamabad emerging as a potential venue for indirect or direct discussions.
