Vance says US ‘not there yet’ with Iran, but close: ‘We’ve made a lot of progress’

US Vice President JD Vance tells reporters that Washington is “not there yet” with Iran but that the parties are close, saying the US is in a position where it can substantially set back Tehran’s nuclear program.

“We’ve made a lot of progress,” Vance says, claiming “it’s very clear” that the Iranians “want a deal. They want to open the Strait of Hormuz, we want them to open the Strait of Hormuz.”

He acknowledges there are also “a couple of issues on the nuclear stuff — the highly enriched stockpile and also the question of enrichment.”

Vance adds: “So we’re going back and forth with them. We do think they are negotiating, at least so far, in good faith, and we’re making some progress. Hopefully we’ll continue to make progress and the president can be in a position where he can endorse the agreement but obviously that’s [still to be determined].”