WASHINGTON: US Vice President JD Vance has stated that “significant progress” has been made in negotiations with Iran following the Islamabad Talks.
In a statement during a Fox News interview, he said, “Whether we have further conversations, whether we ultimately get to a deal, I really think the ball is in the Iranian court, because we put a lot on the table.”
JD Vance stressed that Iran must not attempt to acquire nuclear weapons, adding that Washington has made it clear to Tehran that nuclear material must be removed from the country.
He further stated that the United States has clearly defined its red lines in discussions with Iran and will not compromise on core security concerns.Vance also accused Iran of engaging in what he called “economic terrorism” against the world, while expressing cautious optimism about the direction of talks.
He said he hoped progress would be made regarding the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a key global energy route. Speaking to Fox News, Vance said, “We need to see the Strait of Hormuz fully open. And this is, frankly, one of the things where the Iranians tried to move the goalposts during the negotiation.”
He added that the fragile 14-day ceasefire with Iran, which began last week, was partially based on Tehran agreeing to reopen the strait.JD Vance reiterated that all of America’s “red lines” for a peace deal are grounded in the position that Iran can never be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon.