After being out of sight for pivotal moments of the war against Iran, U.S. Vice President JD Vance is stepping onto center stage.?

Vance is leading a U.S. delegation to Islamabad for the first face-to-face talks with Iranian officials since the beginning of the conflict, which has triggered a global energy crisis. The outcome could determine whether a tenuous two-week ceasefire turns into a lasting peace or ultimately unravels and plunges the region into further conflict.?

The stakes are also high for Vance himself. Thrust into the middle of a war he didn¡¯t want, President Donald Trump is now counting on the vice president to be his closer. If he succeeds, it could help him burnish his credibility on the world stage ahead of a possible White House run in 2028. Failure, however, could damage his standing and saddle him with the chunk of the blame.