Vance Says Next Step in Negotiations Up to Iran; US Has All the Cards with Blockade in Effect

The recent peace talks between the United States and Iran, held over the weekend, have concluded without an agreement, according to US Vice President JD Vance. Vance stated that the ball is now in Iran's court, as their negotiating team requires approval from their supreme leader or other high-ranking officials to finalize any terms. This development highlights the persistent challenges in reaching a resolution with Tehran.

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The US discovered that the team would need to return to Tehran “and actually get approval to the terms we had set…either from the supreme leader or somebody else.”

Despite the lack of a final deal, Vance reported that the negotiations were not without progress. The US side was able to clearly articulate its hard-line stances, particularly concerning Iran's enriched uranium and the need for robust mechanisms to prevent future enrichment. Understanding the Iranian negotiation style was also a key takeaway, providing valuable insights for future diplomatic efforts.

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Progress was made during the talks, Vance told Fox News in an interview, both in communicating the US’s hard-line stances and in acquiring knowledge on how the Iranians negotiate.

Adding a significant layer of pressure, the US has implemented a blockade on Iranian vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz. Vance described this measure as a response to Iran's "economic terrorism" and its threats to maritime traffic. The reopening of the Strait was a prerequisite for negotiations, and Vance warned that any failure by Iran to uphold this could fundamentally alter the negotiation landscape. The US, Vance asserted, holds the advantageous position, possessing "all the cards."

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Those are really the two things where, frankly, the Iranians, I think, did make some progress.