Vance Equates Israel’s Self-Defense with Iran’s Missile Rights as U.S.-Iran Deal Details Emerge

U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance said on Thursday that Israel does not give up its right to self-defense if Hezbollah fires rockets or drones at it, while saying the same logic applies to Iran. He explicitly backed Iran’s right to possess ballistic missiles in that context and urged Israel to “respect the peace process.”

Vance said he sees “a strange panic” inside the Israeli system, arguing that people assume anything that might benefit Iran will happen without any change in Iranian behavior. He called that wave of Israeli “hysteria” unusual, saying it stems from a lack of trust. “I think the United States has earned the trust of this region of the world honestly,” he added.

His comments came as the United States and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding overnight, according to Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei. Although a formal signing ceremony in Switzerland had been expected, the agreement was apparently signed digitally. The 60-day negotiation phase will begin only after part of Iran’s frozen assets are unfrozen.

Before the signing, the White House published the full 14-section memorandum. It calls for an immediate and permanent ceasefire on all fronts, including Lebanon, and the opening of talks on a final agreement within 60 days. The document also includes a U.S. commitment to lift sanctions and provide broad economic relief, plus a renewed but vague Iranian pledge not to develop nuclear weapons. Despite U.S. denials, the text also contains a reconstruction plan worth at least $300 billion for Iran.