Vice President J.D. Vance warned Iran not to “play” the U.S. as he departed for high-stakes negotiations in Pakistan amid a two-week ceasefire in the war.
Mr. Vance said Friday he expects positive talks in Islamabad after President Trump struck the truce with Tehran to set the table for negotiations over a lasting peace.
“If the Iranians are willing to negotiate in good faith, we’re certainly willing to extend the open hand. If they’re going to try to play us, then they’re going to find the negotiating team is not that receptive,” Mr. Vance said before boarding his plane outside Washington.
“So we’re going to try to have a positive negotiation,” Mr. Vance said. “The president gave us some pretty clear guidelines, and we’re going to see.”
The U.S. and Israel launched a joint military operation against Iran on Feb. 28 to keep Iran from getting a nuclear weapon and to degrade its missile capabilities.
Mr. Trump wants Iran to stop funding terror proxies in the Middle East. There are also thorny negotiating points over Iran’s ability to enrich uranium and the extent of its control over the Strait of Hormuz, a choke point for oil traffic.
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The president late Thursday warned Iran not to charge tolls on ships attempting to traverse the strait. Reduced traffic through the strait has led to higher oil prices.
Mr. Vance will be joined in Pakistan by U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Mr. Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner.
Pakistan is relishing its role as a key mediator of the conflict and said Friday it would issue visas upon arrival to journalists who wished to cover the negotiations.
