Vance: We Achieved Decisive Victory Over Iran, Seek 'Final Nuclear Commitment'

Washington – Agencies: US Vice President JD Vance revealed that Washington seeks a final commitment from Tehran regarding the nuclear file. In an interview with CBS News yesterday, he said, “We are seeking a final and firm commitment from the Iranians not to rebuild their nuclear program.” He also believed that the world and America would see a decline in fuel prices when the conflict with Iran ends. Vance affirmed that the United States “has achieved a decisive victory” over Iran by destroying its nuclear program, but added that the war must continue to ensure Tehran does not rebuild its nuclear capabilities and to prevent a global energy supply crisis. He said, “I would be the first to tell you that fuel prices are extremely high, but they would have been three times higher if not for the US Navy keeping oil and gas flowing through the Strait of Hormuz.”

US President Donald Trump had previously affirmed that the United States eliminated Iran’s nuclear capabilities during the attacks launched against the country, adding, “We may stay there a little longer.” He made these remarks on Saturday in Highlands Heights, Kentucky, during a visit as part of the midterm congressional elections scheduled for November 3. Trump said, “As you know, during that short trip I made to the beautiful Islamic Republic of Iran, we inflicted great destruction on them. But we also eliminated their nuclear capabilities during that trip.” Trump reiterated his assertion that Iran cannot possess nuclear weapons.

For his part, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth stated that Iran possesses “nuclear ambitions” and will face “destruction” if it does not abandon its nuclear goals at the negotiating table. He made these comments during a speech at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, Tennessee, addressing the Iranian file. According to Hegseth, Iran has established a “large arsenal” of conventional missiles and attempted to follow a strategy similar to North Korea’s. The US Defense Secretary added that Tehran sought to develop nuclear weapons while simultaneously creating a “large arsenal” of conventional weapons. Hegseth pointed out that Iran must make a very quick decision on whether to abandon these goals at the negotiating table.

In response, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told local media yesterday that Iran’s proposal to the United States, which calls for opening the Strait of Hormuz within seven days, remains on the table. He added that if Washington accepts Tehran’s conditions, it would mean opening the strait within six days and resuming talks on the seventh day.

Meanwhile, the Iranian parliament approved yesterday the appointment of Mehrdad Akhlaghi-Khajehji as Minister of Defense and Commander of the Armed Forces, succeeding Aziz Nasirzadeh, who was assassinated at the beginning of the US-Israeli war against Iran on February 28. The new minister vowed to inflict “severe damage” on Americans and in the region in the event of an attack.