Economic pressure a 'delicate dance' against Iran, most effective tool: JD Vance

U.S. Vice President JD Vance asserted on Thursday that economic pressure remains Washington's most potent instrument for dealing with Iran, characterizing the approach as a "delicate dance." Vance explained that while the U.S. can leverage economic measures to influence Tehran, Iran might retaliate with its own economic tactics.

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The most effective tool that we have is the economic pressure we can apply to them. And this is a delicate dance, because we apply economic pressure to them, they're going to try to apply economic pressure to us.

"The most effective tool that we have is the economic pressure we can apply to them. And this is a delicate dance, because we apply economic pressure to them, they're going to try to apply economic pressure to us," Vance said, according to CNN. He noted that Iran has recently felt more pressure than the U.S.

Vance acknowledged the current rise in oil prices but assured that the administration is working to maintain energy supplies through the Strait of Hormuz. "Obviously oil prices are elevated, which people see at the pump," he said. "They are trying to close the Strait down, and if we can, you know, not even get it back to where it was before, but if we can get enough oil and gas out to give some Americans some ease at the pump, some ease on energy prices."

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Obviously oil prices are elevated, which people see at the pump. They are trying to close the Strait down, and if we can, you know, not even get it back to where it was before, but if we can get enough oil and gas out to give some Americans some ease at the pump, some ease on energy prices.

According to CNN, Vance also stated that maintaining pressure on Iran regarding attacks on commercial vessels would influence Tehran's strategic decisions. "Meanwhile, the Iranians are punished for shooting at commercial ships. That just applies a lot of economic pressure to them, and that changes their calculus for you know what kind of a deal they want to make," he added.

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Meanwhile, the Iranians are punished for shooting at commercial ships. That just applies a lot of economic pressure to them, and that changes their calculus for you know what kind of a deal they want to make.

The broader objective of U.S. policy, Vance explained, is to prevent Iran from advancing its nuclear capabilities. "What we are trying to do is create a changed reality on the ground, where not just we can say with confidence their facilities have been destroyed; we can also say with confidence they're never going to try to rebuild, and that's the phase that we're in now," he said. These remarks follow the U.S. announcement of new sanctions against Iran, which Tehran has condemned as "economic terrorism" and "crimes against humanity."

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What we are trying to do is create a changed reality on the ground, where not just we can say with confidence their facilities have been destroyed; we can also say with confidence they're never going to try to rebuild, and that's the phase that we're in now.