JD Vance: Iran's Response to Trump's Leverage Key to US Goals

Vice President JD Vance indicated that the upcoming weeks could mark a pivotal moment in U.S.-Iran relations, emphasizing that the outcome hinges on Tehran's reaction to the economic and diplomatic "leverage" exerted by President Donald Trump. Vance outlined the administration's primary objectives for West Asia, making it clear that Washington seeks complete, verified denuclearization coupled with a revised regional security framework.

"Could this be a very important historical moment? The answer is obviously yes," Vance stated. "But again, how exactly this plays out is very much contingent on the way that the Iranians respond to the leverage the president has put on them." Vance adopted a tone of cautious pragmatism, admitting his own deep skepticism regarding Iran's willingness to comply, while stressing that the U.S. holds the upper hand regardless of Tehran's next move.

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Could this be a very important historical moment? The answer is obviously yes. But again, how exactly this plays out is very much contingent on the way that the Iranians respond to the leverage the president has put on them.

He added, "If they respond well, I think we're gonna look back at this and say we turned over a new leaf. Now, a lot of people are sceptical, including me, that it will ultimately happen. And if the Iranians perform or behave poorly, then I think that we still have a lot of leverage points to ensure that this ends up in a place that is good for America's objective."

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If they respond well, I think we're gonna look back at this and say we turned over a new leaf. Now, a lot of people are sceptical, including me, that it will ultimately happen. And if the Iranians perform or behave poorly, then I think that we still have a lot of leverage points to ensure that this ends up in a place that is good for America's objective.

Quoting Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Vance urged observers not to rush to conclusions about current diplomatic maneuvers, warning that "this is the end of the beginning" and that "there is a lot more game to play." Vance reiterated the need for caution against premature judgments, stating, "I would be highly sceptical of what everybody says right now. I think Marco (US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio) said this the other day; he said, 'this is the end of the beginning'. There is a lot more game to play, and there are a lot more cards that we're going to see."

Vance clarified that Washington's aim extends beyond a bilateral deal, intending to integrate any potential agreement into a broader, multilateral regional pact. The administration plans to assess security dynamics among various regional actors to establish a more stable equilibrium. Expressing confidence in the Trump administration's strategy, Vance remarked, "The good thing about it is that we're served by an administration, we're served by a president of the United States, who is constantly trying to figure out how to gain an edge for the American people. I ultimately strongly believe we will look back on this moment and say we got to a good place. It's going to take a lot of work, not just in the negotiation arena but in the other arenas too."

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this is the end of the beginning. There is a lot more game to play, and there are a lot more cards that we're going to see.

Outlining Washington's priorities, Vance stated, "We want durable commitments that are verifiable and backed up by inspections that Iran will denuclearize their entire country. Okay, we're gonna see how we get there." Vance also provided a highly positive update on global economic concerns.

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We want durable commitments that are verifiable and backed up by inspections that Iran will denuclearize their entire country. Okay, we're gonna see how we get there.