Vance Says Israel Likely to Join Emerging U.S.-Iran Deal

U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance said Tuesday he believes Israel is likely to join the emerging agreement between Washington and Tehran. In an interview with NBC, he said the Trump administration expects Israel to come on board “once we move a little further down the road.”

Vance said the deal leaves implementation and the dismantling of Iran’s nuclear program in Tehran’s hands. He added, “We also have shared interests, but sometimes there will be disagreements between us on certain issues, and I think that is completely reasonable.”

In a separate video about the framework agreement, Vance called it an achievement and said, “This is a win-win situation for the American people.” He stressed that responsibility now lies with Iran, saying, “Now it really depends on the Iranians. Over the coming months we will see whether they are serious about dismantling this program in the long term.” He has previously said the deal is meant to prevent Iran from getting the funds needed to rebuild the program.

The comments came as the sides prepare to sign a memorandum of understanding on Friday. President Donald Trump said oil tankers have begun moving through the southern route in the Strait of Hormuz, but the U.S. blockade on Iranian ports is expected to remain until the formal signing. At the same time, Iranian reports portrayed additional terms that have not been publicly confirmed by Washington, including a claim that U.S. forces would withdraw from the area near Iran within 30 days, that Iran and Oman would jointly manage shipping services in the Strait of Hormuz, and that Tehran would begin charging fees to vessels after a 60-day exemption period.