US Vice-President JD Vance has described negotiations with Iran as a complex and protracted process, warning that they will be “messy” and “take some time” to reach a resolution. Speaking to Fox News on Wednesday, he characterised Iran’s leadership as fractured, with some factions seeking peace while others remain committed to hostilities.

He emphasised that Washington would employ military, economic and diplomatic tools to secure a favourable outcome.

Vance explained that the United States faced the challenge of navigating through Iran’s divided system. He noted that while certain elements within Tehran wanted the war to end, others were radical hardliners determined to continue fighting. He said the administration’s responsibility was to achieve the best outcome for both the American people and the President of the United States.

He cautioned that any eventual agreement would not come quickly, but expressed confidence that the US would ultimately achieve its objectives. He pointed to oil prices, noting they stood at $79, and predicted they would fall and remain stable once negotiations reached their conclusion.

He reiterated that Iran would never be allowed to possess a nuclear weapon and that the United States would emerge in a stronger position.

The Vice-President urged against premature conclusions about the outcome of the talks, stressing that discussions were still ongoing. He said the Trump administration would continue to rely on all available avenues, including military pressure, economic measures and diplomacy, to ensure a successful resolution. He likened the situation to being “in the middle of the game” and criticised attempts to prejudge the process.

Vance assured that the administration was confident negotiations would ultimately lead to a positive result for the United States. He underlined that all tools—military, economic and diplomatic—would be deployed to bring the matter to the right resolution.

Earlier on Tuesday, President Donald Trump said “a lot of progress” had been made in negotiations with Iran and claimed that the Islamic Republic had reached out to the US seeking talks.

He suggested that the situation would become clearer within 48 hours, telling reporters as he departed Los Angeles for Las Vegas that “we’re moving along very nicely” and that clarity would soon emerge.

Trump revealed that Iranian officials had contacted Washington and expressed interest in discussions. He said Tehran would be “very smart” to reach a deal and reiterated that progress was being made. He added that while Iranian officials never publicly acknowledged their outreach, they had privately asked to talk. He insisted that the US would see whether a deal could be reached in the coming days.

The President’s remarks come amid uncertainty over the possibility of a renewed US-Iran agreement aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz. This follows the collapse of the 14‑point Memorandum of Understanding signed in June, which had sought to end hostilities in the region. The renewed diplomatic engagements mark a critical juncture in efforts to stabilise the Gulf and prevent further escalation.

ANI