With indirect U.S.-Iran talks resuming, Vance says "core mission" achieved

Indirect negotiations between Iran and the United States have recommenced in Doha, Qatar, with Qatar and Pakistan acting as mediators. The talks occur against the backdrop of an ongoing war that began on February 28.

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The U.S. has "accomplished the core mission" of making sure Iran never has a nuclear weapon, Vice-President JD Vance said Tuesday, even if ongoing negotiations fail.

U.S. Vice President JD Vance asserted on Tuesday that the United States has "accomplished the core mission" of ensuring Iran never acquires a nuclear weapon. Speaking in an interview with Fox News, Vance stated that the U.S. holds "all the cards" in the negotiations. He expressed optimism that a successful negotiation would lead to a transformed Iran, one that ceases funding regional terrorism and instability and abandons its nuclear ambitions, thereby rejoining the global economy.

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I actually think the United States is in a great position however the negotiation ultimately shakes out.

However, Vance also indicated that even if negotiations fail, Iran's nuclear program has been "destroyed." He suggested that if Iran does not make the necessary concessions, the U.S. remains in a strong position regardless of the outcome.

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If the negotiation is successful, which obviously we want it to be successful, you have an Iran that is permanently transformed, that's not funding regional terrorism and instability, that has permanently given up on any nuclear weapons ambition, and that as a result is welcomed back into the world economy.

Meanwhile, Iran is preparing for the funeral of its former supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed on February 28, the first day of the war, in what Iranian state media described as a U.S.-Israeli strike. State media have released a schedule for ceremonies across Tehran, Qom, Mashhad, and two major Shiite Muslim cities in Iraq, Karbala and Najaf. Officials anticipate 15-20 million mourners, potentially making it the largest state funeral in Iran's history. The commemorations are set to last six days, beginning July 4 in Tehran and concluding July 9 in Mashhad, where Khamenei will be buried. The airspace above Tehran will be closed during the initial period of mourning.

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If on the other hand the Iranians don't behave, if they don't make the concessions in the negotiations that we need to see, their nuclear program is still destroyed.