Vance Previews US-Iran Nuclear Talks, Trump Eyes Broader Non-Proliferation Efforts
Vice President JD Vance has offered insights into the upcoming round of nuclear talks between the United States and Iran, scheduled to take place in Oman. Vance indicated that President Donald Trump remains open to engaging with China and Russia in the future to bolster global efforts in preventing nuclear proliferation. These remarks come as Trump prepares for a visit to several Middle Eastern nations, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, next week.
Speaking at the Munich Leaders Meeting in Washington, D.C., Vance addressed concerns raised by former German ambassador to the U.S., Wolfgang Ischinger, regarding the possibility of achieving "zero enrichment" by Iran and the continuing Gaza conflict. Vance emphasized two critical shortcomings of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), commonly known as the Iran nuclear deal, which was established in 2015 during the Obama administration.
Trump has consistently criticized the JCPOA, arguing that it failed to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons. Vance echoed this sentiment, stating that the Obama-era agreement had "incredibly weak" enforcement mechanisms for inspections. As a result, he believes the deal did not effectively prevent Iran from advancing toward acquiring nuclear weapons capabilities.
Moreover, the Trump administration believes that the JCPOA inadvertently preserved certain elements of Iran’s nuclear program. While Vance acknowledged that Iran currently does not possess nuclear weapons, he argued that the deal allowed Iran to maintain a trajectory toward developing nuclear weapons if it chooses to activate that capability.
"We think that there is a deal here that would reintegrate Iran into the global economy," Vance stated, emphasizing the administration’s objective for the upcoming talks. "That would be really good for the Iranian people, but would result in the complete cessation of any chance that they can get a nuclear weapon. And that’s what we’re negotiating towards. And as the president has said, that’s Option A."
Vance elaborated on the administration’s strategy, outlining three possible scenarios. Option A, as mentioned, involves a comprehensive agreement that benefits the Iranian people while ensuring the complete elimination of Iran’s nuclear weapons program. Option B, Vance warned, "is very bad. It’s very bad for everybody. And it’s not what we want, but it’s better than Option C, which is Iran getting a nuclear weapon. That is what is completely off the table for the American administration. No ifs, ands, or buts."
Trump reinforced this stance in an interview with NBC’s "Meet the Press," stating that he would only accept "total dismantlement" of Iran’s nuclear program.
Vance further emphasized that the Trump administration’s overarching goal is to prevent nuclear proliferation globally. He expressed the president’s willingness to engage with China and Russia in addressing this issue.
"If Iran gets a nuclear weapon, which country then next gets a nuclear weapon, and then when that country gets a nuclear weapon, which country after that? We really care not just about Iran, but about nuclear proliferation," Vance explained. "The president hates nuclear proliferation. I hate nuclear proliferation. And I think that the president would be very open to sitting down with the Russians and the Chinese and saying, look, let’s get this thing in a much better place. Let’s reduce the number of nuclear weapons that are in the world writ large."
Vance acknowledged that such a conversation is not imminent but rather a long-term objective. He cautioned that allowing multiple regimes to pursue nuclear weapons would undermine efforts to reduce global nuclear arsenals.
"But there is no way you get to that conversation if you allow multiple regimes all over the world to enter this sprint for a nuclear weapon," Vance stated. "And we really think that if the Iran domino falls, you’re going to see nuclear proliferation all over the Middle East. That’s very bad for us. It’s very bad for our friends. And it’s something that we don’t think can happen."
Assessing the progress of negotiations with Iran, Vance gave a preliminary assessment of "so far, so good," expressing gratitude to intermediaries, including Oman, for facilitating the talks.
"But this is going to end somewhere, and it will end either in Iran eliminating their nuclear program — their nuclear weapons program," Vance clarified. "They can have civil nuclear power. Okay. We don’t mind that. But let me ask this basic question – which regime in the world has civil nuclear power and enrichment without having a nuclear weapon? And the answer is no one."
Vance reiterated the administration’s position: "So our proposition is very simple. Yes, we don’t care if people want nuclear power. We’re fine with that. But you can’t have the kind of enrichment program that allows you to get to a nuclear weapon. And that’s where we draw the line."
In a separate development, Trump announced that the U.S. military would cease its strikes on Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen, citing the group’s claim that it "does not want to fight anymore." The Houthis had previously claimed responsibility for a missile strike near an Israeli airport.
Adding to the anticipation surrounding Trump’s upcoming Middle East trip, he teased a "very, very big announcement" that would occur before his departure, without providing specific details.
