Vice President JD Vance defended his role in the Vance-Iran deal at the White House on Thursday, as Republicans criticised the US-Iran agreement and officials delayed his planned trip to Switzerland.
Vance dismissed a question about whether President Donald Trump had made him the “fall guy” for the agreement. He said Trump was joking when he suggested he might blame the vice-president if the deal collapsed.
The White House said late Thursday that Vance would not travel to Switzerland for planned talks with Iranian negotiators, at least for now. Officials said arrangements for the technical talks had not been finalised.
Axios reported that Vance postponed the Switzerland trip for logistical reasons, while the US delegation remained ready to depart. The talks were expected to open a 60-day negotiation period under the US-Iran memorandum of understanding.
Several Republicans criticised the agreement. Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana said the deal had not curbed Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Senator Roger Wicker of Mississippi, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said it was “completely out of step” with Trump’s goals.
Vance also criticised Israel’s response to the agreement. He urged Israeli officials to respect the peace process, going further than Trump’s recent public comments.
The administration announced Sunday that Iran had accepted the memorandum of understanding but did not immediately release details. The lack of text led to confusion over the deal’s terms.
Read: US-Iran Talks in Switzerland Called Off After Vance Exit
Vance told CBS News on Monday that Iran could access a $300 billion reconstruction fund if it followed the agreement. Trump later denied that the United States would pay Iran, saying Washington was “not putting up 10 cents.”
US officials later released text saying Washington would work with regional partners on a plan of at least $300 billion for Iran’s reconstruction. Vance said Iran would gain only if it changed its behaviour and accepted a final peace deal.
