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United States Vice President James David Vance on Wednesday urged Iran to take Washington’s warnings of possible military action “seriously,” following remarks by President Donald Trump that appeared to justify a more aggressive approach.
Speaking to Fox News, Vance said while Trump hopes to resolve tensions diplomatically, the president retains the “right” to use force if necessary.
“You can’t let the craziest and worst regime in the world have nuclear weapons,” Vance said, adding that the president has “a number of other tools at his disposal” to prevent that outcome. He emphasised that Iran should heed US warnings during upcoming talks.
Trump’s remarks came during his State of the Union address on Tuesday, where he accused Iran of pursuing missiles capable of striking the United States and having “sinister nuclear ambitions.”
The US president claimed Tehran is rebuilding a nuclear program previously targeted by American strikes. The comments coincided with the announcement of new US sanctions against Iran, as Washington continues its so-called “maximum pressure” campaign.
Iran, meanwhile, dismissed Trump’s missile claims as “big lies.” Its President Masoud Pezeshkian struck a positive note ahead of talks in Geneva, describing the negotiations as having a “favorable outlook” as Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and his team departed for Switzerland.
In his address, Trump outlined what many saw as potential justifications for military action, noting that Iran has already developed missiles that can threaten Europe and its bases overseas and is working to build weapons that could reach the US.
Tehran maintains that its nuclear program is strictly for civilian purposes.
This exchange comes as tensions rise in the Middle East, as US forces continue to mobilise in the region ahead of the high-stakes negotiations.
