Iran must change behaviour to get relief: Vance

Washington, June 18 (IANS) US Vice President JD Vance on Thursday defended the Trump administration’s Iran agreement, saying Tehran would receive no meaningful economic benefits unless it verifiably dismantled elements of its nuclear programme and altered its regional conduct.

Speaking at a White House briefing a day after President Donald Trump signed a memorandum of understanding with Iran aimed at ending months of conflict, Vance said the agreement was already helping stabilise energy markets and restoring commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.

“The United States isn’t giving up a cent of money to Iran,” Vance said, rejecting criticism that the deal offers Tehran major concessions up front.

He said Iran’s nuclear infrastructure had been “destroyed” during the conflict and argued that any future sanctions relief would be tied to inspections, verification measures and broader changes in Iranian behaviour.

“If they don’t change their behaviour, they don’t get the benefit of the bargain,” he said.

Vance said more than 12 million barrels of oil had passed through the Strait of Hormuz overnight, while oil prices and petrol prices in the United States had declined from levels seen during the conflict.

“The President’s peace plan in Iran is already bearing real fruits for the American people,” he said.

The vice president repeatedly stressed that the agreement was based on verification rather than trust.

“We don’t trust words. We trust action, and we trust conduct,” Vance said.

He said Iran would be required to permit inspections and take steps to eliminate its stockpile of highly enriched uranium before receiving broader economic benefits.

Vance said Washington would closely monitor financial flows and retain the ability to restore economic pressure if Tehran failed to comply.

“No sanctions will come off unless they perform the benefit of the bargain, and every sanction will come back on,” he said.

Vance also sought to draw a contrast with the 2015 nuclear agreement negotiated under former President Barack Obama.

“The Obama deal allowed enrichment. Ours will not,” he said. “The Obama deal gave them over $1 billion of American money. This deal gives them $0 of American money.”

The vice president said Gulf Arab partners supported the current framework, unlike the 2015 accord.

“The Gulf Coast coalition loves this deal because they think that it makes Iran weaker,” he said.

Asked about criticism from some Republican lawmakers and Israeli officials, Vance urged sceptics to give the process time.

“So many of what I’ve read or heard that people believe about this deal is just fundamentally untrue,” he said.

He confirmed that Congress would receive a formal briefing on the agreement and said technical talks involving US and Iranian negotiators were expected to begin in Switzerland in the coming days.

The agreement comes after months of military confrontation involving Iran, Israel and US forces, raising concerns about regional stability and the security of global energy supplies.

–IANS

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