U.S. Vice President JD Vance warned Iran, which has been heightening tensions even after a cease-fire deal, that "if it breaks its promises, it will face serious consequences." As Iran signaled the possibility of reclosing the Strait of Hormuz and ratcheted up pressure, the United States also made clear it would respond firmly.
On the 8th local time, before departing for home after a visit to Hungary, Vice President Vance told reporters, "Frankly, if Iran breaks the deal, it will face significant consequences," adding, "Right now we are in a good position." He stressed, "Iran is reopening the strait, and we are currently in a cease-fire."
Earlier the White House said Vice President Vance is set to lead the first peace talks with Iran on the 11th in Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan.
Vance said, "President Donald Trump is clear that this deal is a 'cease-fire and negotiations,'" adding, "If Iran does not keep its promise to reopen the strait, we have no reason to keep our conditions." He added, "If Iran does not move to the next step, the president has various options to return to war."
The remarks are seen as a response to Iran's recent claim that Israel's strikes in Lebanon violate the cease-fire deal and its mention of possibly reclosing the Strait of Hormuz. The Strait of Hormuz, a key Middle East sea lane, is a strategic chokepoint through which about 20% of the world's crude oil shipments pass.
Regarding Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who is cited as Iran's lead negotiator and claimed on social media that "the United States has already violated the deal," Vice President Vance pushed back strongly, saying, "That makes no sense." He also said, "I wonder if he properly understands English."
On Israel's strikes in Lebanon in particular, Vance said, "Iran seems to think the cease-fire includes Lebanon, but it never did," adding, "Neither the United States nor Israel has ever said Lebanon is covered by the cease-fire."
On the controversy over violating Iranian airspace, he said, "A cease-fire cannot be perfect by nature, and some clashes are inevitable," and on uranium enrichment rights, he said, "What matters more is their actual behavior than the rights they claim."
Vance said, "The United States has various negotiating levers, and Iran also has something to gain through talks," adding, "The more Iran gives, the more it can take." He emphasized, "We do not want the Iranian people to suffer, but what matters most is engaging in the talks in good faith."