"You've got to be willing to talk": JD Vance defends US diplomacy with Iran amid renewed hostilities
Washington DC, July 16
US Vice President JD Vance has defended continued diplomatic engagement with Iran despite renewed hostilities, arguing that the conflict cannot be resolved through military force alone and that negotiations remain essential to address security challenges in the Strait of Hormuz.
Speaking in an interview with podcaster Joe Rogan on an episode of "The Joe Rogan Experience" released on Wednesday (local time), Vance said that he was frustrated by calls to abandon diplomacy with Tehran.
"I'm very frustrated by the Americans, and frankly by people in other countries who are like, you cannot negotiate with the Iranians," Vance said.
Vance, who has led US efforts to engage Iran over its nuclear programme, acknowledged that negotiations have stalled amid disputes related to the Strait of Hormuz. His remarks come as President Donald Trump has questioned the value of continuing talks, calling it "a waste of time dealing with them" as hostilities resume.
Defending the diplomatic track, Vance argued that Iran's ability to threaten shipping in the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz means military action alone cannot deliver a lasting solution.
"You can bomb them, you can take away their radar, you can take away some of their drones and some of their missiles, but it's just too easy to fire at ships in the straits," Vance said.
"So you've got to actually be willing to talk and to try to figure out the problem," he added.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump on Wednesday (local time) said that he does not like setting deadlines when asked whether he had given Iran any ultimatum before ordering the bombing of its bridges, while warning that Tehran "better behave" amid a renewed exchange of fire between the two sides in West Asia following the collapse of the memorandum of understanding aimed at ending the conflict in the region.
Responding to a query when Trump has given Terhan any deadline before he initiates strikes on civilian assets inside the Islamic Republic, Trump said, "I don't like giving deadlines, but they pretty much know--they know the story. They better behave."
Trump made the remarks after arriving in Pennsylvania, where he is participating in the Pennsylvania Defence and Innovation Summit.
From the Iranian side, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei on Wednesday stated that the Islamic Republic has no plans to resume negotiations with the United States amid escalation of military confrontation between the two sides in West Asia, according to Iranian state media Press TV.
Baghaei asserted that Tehran is currently focused on defending itself against ongoing US military actions, noting that it no longer considers itself bound by the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed with Washington aimed at ending the hostilities in the region.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Vance makes sense, but the problem is trust. Iran says they won't negotiate after being bombed. Trump says talking is a waste. Meanwhile, the world burns and the Suez Canal gets rerouted. As an Indian watching this from afar, I just hope our government keeps its own energy ties secure. We can't afford to be collateral damage.
Diplomatic engagement is fine in theory, but honestly, how many times have we seen the US talk and then bomb? Vance is trying to play the reasonable guy, but Trump's "better behave" comment shows the real policy—intimidation. Iran isn't going to just bend over, and we're likely headed for another West Asian quagmire. History repeats itself.
As someone who follows global affairs closely, I find Vance's stance refreshing but naive. You can't negotiate with a regime that calls America the "Great Satan." And Trump's ultimatum approach just feeds their paranoia. Meanwhile, India's straddling both sides—we buy Iranian oil but also cozy up to the US. Realpolitik at its finest. 😅
I used to think diplomacy was weak, but after seeing Afghanistan and Iraq, maybe Vance has a point. The Strait of Hormuz is too strategic to just rely on bombs. Iran can easily disrupt global shipping. India imports most of its oil through there. If talks fail, we'll all feel it at the petrol pump. 🙏
Vance's "willing to talk" approach is good in theory, but Iran just said they won't negotiate. And Trump's "they better behave" sounds like a schoolyard threat. This is a mess. India should focus on diversifying energy sources and building strategic reserves. We can't rely on either side to act rationally. Also, Joe Rogan interview? Really? 😂
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.