US Vice President JD Vance (R) speaks throughout a information convention after assembly with representatives from Pakistan and Iran, as US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner (L) and US Particular Envoy to the Center East Steve Witkoff (C) watch, in Islamabad on April 12, 2026.
Jacquelyn Martin | Afp | Getty Pictures
Vice President JD Vance, after getting back from unsuccessful negotiations with Iran over the weekend, stated Monday that it’s as much as the Islamic Republic to make the subsequent transfer on peace talks with the U.S.
“Whether or not now we have additional conversations, whether or not we in the end get to a deal, I actually suppose the ball is within the Iranian courtroom, as a result of we put rather a lot on the desk,” Vance stated in a Fox Information interview.
He careworn that if America’s “purple traces” on Iran’s nuclear ambitions are met, “then this could be a very, excellent deal for each nations.”
The remarks got here hours after the U.S. began blocking ships from coming into or exiting Iranian ports within the Strait of Hormuz, in what President Donald Trump says is an try to strain Tehran’s leaders again to the negotiating desk.
The blockade was introduced shortly after U.S. negotiators departed from peace talks in Islamabad with out securing a deal to finish the conflict.
It was additionally aimed toward forcing Iran to reopen the strait, a significant pathway for oil delivery whose de facto closure throughout the conflict has since world power costs hovering.
“We will not let a rustic blackmail or extort the world, as a result of that is what they’re doing,” Trump stated of Iran on Monday.
Vance informed Fox, “We have to see the Strait of Hormuz totally open. And that is, frankly, one of many issues the place the Iranians tried to maneuver the goalposts throughout the negotiation.”
The delicate 14-day ceasefire with Iran, which started final week, was premised partly on Tehran agreeing to reopen the strait, Vance stated.
“However we have not seen that full reopening. So our expectation is that the Iranians are going to proceed to make progress to opening the Strait of Hormuz, and if they do not, it’ll essentially change the negotiation that now we have with them,” he stated.
The blockade supplies “further financial strain” on Iran, he stated.
All of America’s “purple traces” for a peace deal stem from the place that Iran can by no means have a nuclear weapon, the vp stated.
Washington and Tehran couldn’t attain closing agreements, Vance stated, on Trump’s two non-negotiables: eradicating Iran’s enriched uranium from the nation, and implementing verification measures to make sure that they can not receive nuclear weapons.
The U.S. negotiating crew of Vance and particular envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner made progress with Iran throughout the Islamabad talks, the vp stated.
“They moved in our course, which is why I feel we’d say that we had some good indicators. However they did not transfer far sufficient,” he stated.
“And so what we determined is, you recognize what, provided that we do not suppose this present crew and this present timeline goes to have the ability to make a deal, allow them to return to Tehran, we’ll return to Washington, and that is the place we’re right this moment,” he stated.
Requested if extra talks are within the pipeline, Vance stated, “It is a query that will be greatest put to the Iranians, as a result of the ball actually is of their courtroom.”
“There actually is, I feel, a grand deal available right here,” he stated, “nevertheless it’s as much as the Iranians, I feel, to take the subsequent step.”
“The president, desires the Iranian folks to thrive and succeed. He has had his negotiation crew placed on the desk a critical proposal,” Vance stated. The ball is in Iran’s courtroom. Did we make progress? Sure, however we’ll discover out from the Iranians whether or not we will make that final little bit of progress that will get us to a giant deal.”