Vice-president JD Vance has declared that the United States holds all the cards in the conflict with Iran, asserting that America wins 'either way' regardless of whether a final nuclear deal is reached. Speaking to HBO's Bill Maher on Friday, Vance argued that Iran's nuclear program has already been destroyed and the country is significantly weakened, giving the US a strategic advantage under any scenario.
Vance's 'Win-Win' Stance on Iran Negotiations
'If we make the final deal, then great,' Vance told Maher. '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.' The vice-president also pointed to the increased flow of oil through the Strait of Hormuz as 'a signal that there’s something real going on' in terms of progress.
The comments came hours before fresh military strikes were exchanged in the strategic waterway, testing a shaky ceasefire between the US and Iran. President Donald Trump echoed Vance's confidence on Truth Social, warning that if Iran continues to provoke, the US may be forced to 'militarily complete the job that we very successfully started' and that 'the Islamic Republic of Iran will no longer exist.'
US Strikes on Iranian Targets Continue
The US military launched further strikes on multiple targets in Iran on Saturday, according to US Central Command (Centcom). The strikes were described as a 'direct response to continued Iranian aggression against commercial shipping,' following a drone attack on a cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz. Centcom stated that the strikes targeted 'Iranian military surveillance infrastructure, communication systems, air defense sites, drone storage facilities, and minelayer capabilities.'
The escalation underscores the fragility of the current ceasefire and the high stakes in the region, where shipping lanes are vital for global oil supplies.
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These developments highlight a busy period for the Trump administration, with foreign policy, environmental regulation, and immigration enforcement all in the spotlight.
