Vance says progress made toward ‘grand deal, accuses Iran of ‘economic terrorism’

“Whether we have further conversations, whether we ultimately get to a deal, I really think the ball is in the Iranian court,” the vice president said.

By World Israel News Staff

Vice President JD Vance accused Iran on Monday of carrying out “economic terrorism” through its continued restriction of shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, while signaling that Washington still sees a path to a broader agreement if Tehran changes course.

During an interview with Fox News, Vance said the US had made significant progress in talks with Iran but added that “the ball is in Iran’s court.”

Vance’s comments came after high-level talks between US and Iranian officials in Islamabad ended without a breakthrough over the weekend, though both sides left open the possibility of returning to the table later this week.

Reuters reported that the discussions covered Iran’s nuclear program, sanctions relief, regional security and the future of maritime traffic through Hormuz, a chokepoint critical to global energy markets.

The Strait of Hormuz has become one of the central disputes in the crisis. Reuters reported that Vance said the US expects Iran to reopen access through the strait and warned that the direction of diplomacy could change if Tehran fails to act.

Iran has restricted passage to what it calls “unfriendly” nations since the war began in late February, sharply disrupting oil and gas flows.

Washington has responded by launching a naval blockade on Iranian ports, escalating pressure on Tehran while trying to preserve the ceasefire that halted direct US and Israeli strikes on Iran last week.

The blockade is designed to choke off Iranian maritime trade while still allowing neutral vessels through the strait, though the arrangement has already exposed practical and diplomatic tensions.

“Well, as the president of the United States showed, two can play that game,” Vance said shortly before the blockade went into effect on Monday.

“We know that’s a big deal to them. We know it applies additional economic leverage.”

Despite the tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, Vance said that the two sides “made a lot of progress” during the negotiations in Islamabad, with the possibility of achieving a “grand deal” resolving multiple outstanding issues beyond Iran’s nuclear program.

“They moved in our direction, which is why I think we would say that we had some good signs, but they didn’t move far enough,” Vance said.

“Whether we have further conversations, whether we ultimately get to a deal, I really think the ball is in the Iranian court because we put a lot on the table, we actually made very clear what our red lines were.”