Iran war live: JD Vance defends Iran deal as US says naval blockade lifted

US Vice President JD Vance has mounted a robust defense of the recently signed US-Iran memorandum of understanding (MoU), insisting the 60-day negotiating period has officially begun and that the deal represents a significant victory for Washington.

Speaking at a White House briefing on June 18, Vance confirmed that the 60-day window laid out in the agreement starts that day. "I would say the 60-day period officially started today," he told reporters, according to the Jerusalem Post.

Al Jazeera reported that Vance defended the deal amid criticism from officials in the United States and longtime ally Israel, saying the negotiating period between Washington and Tehran has begun after the MoU was signed by both countries' presidents.

Vance's Advocacy and Claims of Victory

In a media blitz over the past 24 hours, Vance has positioned himself as the administration's primary advocate for the controversial agreement, as reported by the Jerusalem Post. He told Fox News host Sean Hannity that the deal is "a big day for the American people – a big win for everybody who cares about basic peace and stability in the Middle East."

Speaking to Fox News in a separate interview, Vance hailed the peace deal as "a very, very big win" for the United States, according to TASS. He stated that the deal means "Iran will never have a nuclear weapon," adding that this is "built into this agreement."

The vice president also argued that the US "wins either way" regarding negotiations with Iran, as reported by The Guardian. In an appearance on HBO's "Real Time" with Bill Maher, Vance said: "If we make the final deal, then great. If we don't make the final deal, their nuclear program is still destroyed. They're still much weaker as a country, so my attitude is America wins either way."

Vance pointed to what he called the destruction of Iran's nuclear program and the country's diminished capabilities as significant achievements, according to The Guardian. He also noted that the increased flow of oil through the Strait of Hormuz was a "signal that there's something real going on."

Key Claims

• The 60-day negotiating period between Washington and Tehran has begun, as confirmed by Vance at a White House briefing (Jerusalem Post, Al Jazeera).
• The United States is prepared to reduce its military presence near Iran to pre-conflict levels during the final stages of implementing the peace agreement (TASS).
• Neither Washington nor Tehran is interested in maintaining an expanded US military presence in the Middle East once the terms of the agreement are fulfilled (TASS).
• Vance described the deal as a "very big win" for the United States and said it ensures Iran will never have a nuclear weapon (TASS).
• Vance positioned himself as the administration's primary advocate for the MoU, emphasizing a broader transformation of the Iranian state (Jerusalem Post).
• Vance stated that no US taxpayer money will go to Iran (Jerusalem Post).

Military Presence and Broader Goals

According to TASS, Vance said at a White House press conference that the US is prepared to reduce its military presence near Iran to pre-conflict levels during the final stages of implementing a peace agreement. "This is the final deal," Vance said. "What we're saying is that we will withdraw troops to the pre-conflict level, meaning we're not going to keep a couple of extra aircraft carrier groups over there."

Vance added that neither Washington nor Tehran is interested in maintaining an expanded US military presence in the Middle East once the terms of the agreement are fulfilled. "The Iranians don't want that. Frankly, we don't want that either," he said.

The vice president also indicated that the administration is seeking a broader transformation of the Iranian state, not just a nuclear deal, as reported by the Jerusalem Post. "The president of the United States doesn't want just a nuclear deal, as much as that's a win for the American people," Vance explained to NBC. He emphasized that the administration is willing to give significant sanctions relief if the Iranians make long-term commitments to become a "normal country."

Addressing concerns about taxpayer funds, Vance stated flatly: "We're not giving them American money. Not a single dollar of American money will go to Iran." He framed the agreement as an economic benefit, pointing to a sharp decline in energy prices and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

Ceasefire and Escalation Concerns

Vance acknowledged that the ceasefire deal between President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, under the 60-day MoU, "is always going to be a little messy when you're dealing with the Iranians," as reported by The Guardian. His comments came just hours before reports that a tanker was struck by a projectile in the Strait of Hormuz, and the US and Iran each launched strikes in the worst escalation since the interim peace deal was signed.

Washington said it hit Iranian targets overnight, while Iran said it had struck targets linked to US forces on Saturday in response, according to The Guardian. The attack on the tanker followed an attack on a cargo ship on Thursday that triggered the hostilities.

Despite these tensions, Vance maintained that his negotiations with an Iranian delegation in Lucerne, Switzerland, have been successful, pointing to oil prices down to $73 a barrel and Iran's nuclear program being "functionally destroyed," according to The Guardian.

Critics of the MoU and the ongoing negotiations argue that the Trump administration is negotiating with a weak hand, in part because Iran still has a stockpile of 60%-enriched uranium, which may not be accessible but remains in the country, as noted by The Guardian.