Vance says Iran talks ‘going well’ in Doha

Washington: US Vice President JD Vance said that negotiations with Iran in Doha were “going well”, while warning that President Donald Trump would not hesitate to use military force again if Tehran resumed its nuclear programme or attacked commercial shipping.

Speaking to reporters before departing aboard Air Force Two after visiting Naval Air Station Oceana in Virginia on Wednesday (local time), Vance said negotiators from the United States, Iran, Qatar and other countries were discussing the next steps following recent US military action against Iranian targets.

“Right now the negotiators are sitting down with the Iranians, with the Qataris and with others in Doha,” Vance said. “Right now the talks are going well. It’s still pretty early, but talks are going well.”

He said the immediate focus was to ensure commercial shipping continued moving safely through the region.

“Commercial traffic really does… It’s already started in an amazing direction. We’ve got now oil at $68. We’ve got gas prices starting to come down,” he said. “We’re worried about the nuclear issue. We’re going to start talking about that.”

Vance said the Trump administration would continue negotiations but maintained that military options remained available if Iran reversed course.

“What I can commit to is the President’s not going to send our military back in unless he has to, unless there’s a clearly defined purpose for it,” he said.

“If they try to rebuild their nuclear programme, if they try to start shooting at commercial vessels again, that’s going to change our calculus.”

He added that Trump had instructed his team to pursue diplomacy from what he described as a position of strength.

“What the President has said is go and make a deal, go and negotiate in good faith, and that’s what he’s empowered us to do,” Vance said.

Asked about divisions within the Iranian leadership, Vance said there appeared to be growing support inside Tehran for improving relations with the West and neighbouring Gulf states.

“In the Iranian system, like a lot of places, you’ve got people who actually recognise the last 47 years of their government has been a mistake and that they need to change their relationship with the United States, with Europe, with the Gulf Arab countries,” he said.

“And then you’ve got a few people who are still kind of attached to the old ways.”

He said Washington believed “we see a lot of momentum for the people who are trying to turn over a new leaf” and would therefore continue giving diplomacy “as much of a chance to succeed as possible.”

However, he reiterated that any attempt by Iran to restart sensitive nuclear activities or restrict international monitoring would trigger a different US response.

“If they try to rebuild that nuclear programme, if they refuse to let inspections in, if they… resume shooting at commercial vessels… then obviously, the President still has a lot of options on the table,” he said.

Vance also declined to speculate about the 2028 presidential election after being asked about comments from Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

“I don’t think much about 2028,” he said. “My attitude is let’s do a good job now. Let’s continue to try to bank some wins for the American people. We can worry about the future when the future comes.”

On the Supreme Court, Vance said he believed Justice Amy Coney Barrett had “made a mistake” in a recent birthright citizenship ruling, adding that “sometimes the Supreme Court makes mistakes” and that the administration would “try to correct that mistake.”

He also dismissed speculation over a possible retirement by Justice Samuel Alito, saying any decision would rest entirely with the justice.

The Doha negotiations follow recent US military strikes on Iranian nuclear and military facilities ordered by President Trump after tensions escalated in the Gulf. The administration has since shifted its focus to diplomacy, with Qatar playing a key mediating role between Washington and Tehran.

The talks come amid broader international efforts to reduce tensions in the region, restore confidence in maritime security and prevent further escalation over Iran’s nuclear programme. The United States has maintained that diplomacy remains its preferred course but insists it will act if Iran resumes activities it considers a threat to regional or global security.

IANS