JD Vance says US achieved its “core mission” in Iran

In a recent appearance on Fox News’ The Ingraham Angle, US Vice President JD Vance declared that the United States has achieved its “core mission” of ensuring Iran never acquires a nuclear weapon.

Vance added that the administration is in a “great position” amid ongoing US-Iran discussions.

“I actually think that the United States is in a great position, however the negotiation ultimately shakes out,” Vance said

Vance highlighted the significant degradation of Iran’s nuclear capabilities through prior US and allied actions, including military strikes that destroyed key enrichment facilities and infrastructure.

“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 is permanently given up on any nuclear weapons ambition, and that, as a result, is welcomed back into the world economy. That’s a great outcome for the American people; it’s a great outcome for the whole region,” Vance added.

The Vice President discussed the broader context of US-Iran negotiations, including a memorandum of understanding (MOU) aimed at formalizing commitments.

These include the return of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors to Iran and mechanisms to dismantle remaining highly enriched uranium stockpiles under international oversight.

According to Vance, the US approach offers Iran a pathway toward economic normalization and regional integration, provided it abandons nuclear ambitions, ceases support for what he called terrorism, and adopts more responsible international behavior.

He stressed upfront American financial concessions do not exist. .

“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, their conventional military is still destroyed, and the United States is still in a much stronger position relative to the Iranians. So, my attitude on this, Laura, is we have all the cards in negotiation,” Vance said

Vance described the current situation as one where the US “wins either way.”