Vance says US sees prospects for Iran deal as Trump says ‘It could happen!’

The US is hopeful of a negotiated solution with Iran, Vice President JD Vance said on Monday, as President Donald Trump indicated that such a deal was possible ahead of a fresh diplomatic push to end the war.

“The president and I both think pretty highly of the prospects of possibly getting to a negotiated settlement,” Vance said, telling journalists that Washington had made headway during talks with Tehran.

“We’ve got definitely some. We may be able to get a little bit more,” he said.

“Trump, on Truth Social, said Iran wanted a settlement ‘as soon as possible’ and added: ‘It could happen!'”

The comments came as Qatari mediators pressed on in an effort to help bring Washington and Tehran closer to an agreement. Discussions reportedly include reopening the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for US sanctions relief, followed by broader negotiations on Iran’s nuclear programme, The Times of Israel reported.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also confirmed that mediation talks had been “intensive”, and that “we presented our conditions and proposals”.

Vance said Washington had not placed a deadline on Iran prior to taking the step of applying military force. He also made clear that any accord would need to provide “verifiable assurances” that Tehran would not re-establish its nuclear programme.