Vance pushes back on GOP critics of Iran deal as 60-day clock begins

Administration Vance pushes back on GOP critics of Iran deal as 60-day clock begins Comments: by Julia Manchester - 06/18/26 1:02 PM ET Comments: Link copied by Julia Manchester - 06/18/26 1:02 PM ET Comments: Link copied

NOW PLAYING

Vice President Vance pushed back on Republican criticism of the memorandum of understanding with Iran, as he announced Thursday that the 60-day clock on the next phase of nuclear negotiations is set to start.

“So many of what I’ve read or heard that people believe about this is fundamentally untrue,” Vance told reporters.

The vice president emphasized the agreement is a memorandum of understanding, arguing it’s about “rewarding good conduct and punishing bad conduct.”

Vance also urged critics to “have a little faith” in President Trump.

“The idea that he is going to strike a deal that’s been bad for the American people, it’s preposterous,” he said. “He is the person who has had the courage to fundamentally transform our relationship with Iran and with a lot of other countries over the last year and a half.”

Vance said he believes when critics understand the U.S.’s “negotiating posture,” they will see the deal is “an excellent thing for the American people,” pointing to supportive remarks from Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), typically a staunch Iran hawk.

“That’s part of our job,” he said. “We’ve got to tell the story about what this means for Americans [and] how it’s going to make all of us safer and more prosperous.”

A growing number of Republican lawmakers and conservative figures have criticized the agreement, arguing it gives Iran a crucial economic lifeline without securing any concessions on its nuclear program.

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), a key ally of the administration, has been among those critics.

“History teaches that giving billions of dollars to theocratic lunatics who want to murder us is not a good idea. I think the president is receiving some very poor advice on this deal,” Cruz told The Hill on Wednesday.

Senate Armed Services Committee Chair Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) also issued a statement criticizing the deal Thursday.

“I am concerned that the memorandum of understanding negotiates away the victories of Operation Epic Fury in ways that are completely out of step with the President’s goals,” he wrote.

“President Trump has pursued peace through strength. I hope the intermediaries working on this deal are not undermining that objective,” he added.

Vance said the White House is looking to brief lawmakers on the deal “very soon” but added the administration does not believe the Treasury Department needs congressional approval to waive oil sanctions on Iran.

The next round of talks between U.S. and Iranian negotiators is tentatively set for this weekend in Switzerland.

Vance said he expected to get involved in negotiations soon, but he wasn’t certain if he would be joining this weekend.

He said the U.S. was officially starting the 60-day clock on negotiations Friday, as the deal envisions the two sides hammering out a broader peace deal within two months.

Trump said Wednesday the 60 days was not a hard deadline, and he was fine with extending the talks as long as Iran was “behaving.”

Add as preferred source on Google Tags Donald Trump JD Vance Lindsey Graham Roger Wicker Ted Cruz

Comments: Link copied