JD Vance says US holds all the cards and will win 'either way' in Iran talks

US Vice President JD Vance said on Friday that the US wins "either way" in negotiations with Iran, pointing to what he called the destruction of its nuclear program and its diminished status as a country. Appearing on HBO's "Real Time" with Bill Maher, Vance stated: "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 acknowledged that the ceasefire deal between Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, under a 60-day memorandum of understanding (MOU), "is always going to be a little messy when you're dealing with the Iranians."

His appearance came hours before reports that a tanker was struck by a projectile in the Strait of Hormuz and that the US and Iran each launched strikes—the worst escalation since they signed the interim peace deal. Washington said it hit Iranian targets overnight, while Iran said it struck targets linked to US forces on Saturday in response. The tanker attack followed an attack on a cargo ship on Thursday that triggered hostilities.

Vance, who was promoting his new memoir "Communion: Finding My Way Back to Faith," said his negotiations with an Iranian delegation in Lucerne, Switzerland, have been successful because oil is "down to $73 a barrel" and Iran's nuclear program was "functionally destroyed," citing its ability to enrich uranium. Critics of the MOU note that Iran still has a stockpile of 60%-enriched uranium.

IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said on Friday that reducing Iran's stockpile or transferring it abroad remains a viable option while the US and Iran pursue a comprehensive agreement.

Pressed by Maher on whether Iran's nuclear program is destroyed, Vance shot back: "What part of it is not destroyed? The thing that you have to destroy is their ability to enrich uranium, which has been destroyed." He offered an olive branch: "If they are willing to give up nuclear weapons ambitions for the long term, then the United States is willing to fundamentally transform our relationship with that country."

Vance also sidestepped criticism of the administration's immigration enforcement policies, saying: "You can't do a law enforcement operation like that without having some situations that are recorded like that. I don't think there was an easy way to do this."