JD Vance stresses focus on Iran’s nuclear program, not political overhaul

During a recent briefing, Vice President JD Vance articulated the U.S.’s policy toward Iran, emphasizing that the nation’s interventions focus on Iran’s nuclear program rather than the country as a whole. Vance underscored that swift U.S. actions have unraveled and thus slowed down Iran’s nuclear progression. He laid the blame for the strikes at the feet of Iran’s deceptive diplomatic maneuvers, again stressing that the U.S objectives rest on stalling the nuclear program and not instigating a political overhaul in Iran.

He disclosed that the decision to move ahead with the strikes was a last-minute one made by President Trump. Following the strikes, the U.S. reportedly got correspondence from Iran indirectly. The strikes drew flak from some Democratic members who viewed them as unconstitutional; Vance, on the other hand, maintained their legality, advocating the president’s right to hinder Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) proliferation.

In his address on June 22, Vice President JD Vance clarified that the United States was not at odds with Iran as a country, but strictly against its nuclear program. Owing to the U.S. military’s intervention authorized by President Donald Trump, the advancement of Iran’s nuclear program has experienced substantial delays.

Praising the efficacy of the operation, Trump stated that significant Iranian nuclear sites had been decimated overnight through heavy bunker-busting bombs. The operation signaled a collaboration between the U.S. and Israel, marking a considerable intensification of tension in the region. ‘While we don’t seek to fight Iran, we are committed to fighting its nuclear ambitions,’ Vance clarified in an interview.

Reflecting on the attack’s implications, Vance was optimistic that the setback on Iran’s nuclear program is vast. He postulated that ‘it will need many years for Iran to rebound and realize its nuclear weapon aspirations.’

Citing Iran’s breach of trust during negotiations, Vance justified the air strikes as the U.S. had been engaged in negotiations over Tehran’s nuclear program, only to be met with negligible progress. In response to the strikes, Tehran declared its intent to protect itself, while UN Chief Antonio Guterres communicated his ‘grave concern’ over the US bombings of Iranian nuclear sites.

‘Regime alteration is not our mission here,’ asserted Vance. ‘We aspire to eliminate the nuclear program and engage Iranians in discussions for a lasting solution.’ Vance also affirmed that the order to strike Iran was approved by President Trump just before the action took place and that the U.S. has since received indirect contact from Tehran.

In the aftermath, Vance underscored that the U.S. harbors no intention of deploying ground troops. Trump later hinted at his plans to make a decision about direct U.S. involvement in the Israel-Iran conflict within the following two weeks.

The conflict began with Israel’s assaults on Iran on June 13, sparking unease in a region already grappling with tensions amid Israel’s Gaza war, which commenced in October 2023. The U.S. and Israel enjoy a longstanding alliance, with Israel being the only Middle East country widely presumed to possess nuclear weaponry.

Israel rationalizes its strikes on Iran as a necessary step to prevent Tehran from building its own nuclear arsenal. Iran, for its part, maintains that its nuclear agenda is non-threatening and legal, being a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, unlike Israel.

Several Democratic lawmakers in the U.S. have criticized President Trump’s decisions, labelling them unconstitutional and highlighting Congress’s exclusive right to authorize warfare against foreign nations.

Addressing these criticisms, Vance outlined President Trump’s immutable authority to prevent the spread of WMD. Therefore, he maintained that the ensuing actions don’t contravene constitutional restrictions and are valid eliciting a diligent effort in battling Armageddon-level weapons.