The United States is pursuing a “Trumpian grand bargain” with Iran that would begin to normalise relations and see the rogue state reintegrate with the global economy, US Vice President JD Vance says, as he struck a highly optimistic tone about the possibility of a deal to end the war,
The Sydney Morning Herald reports.
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump said in a television interview on Tuesday (US time) that while he believed the Iranians wanted to make a deal, he would be comfortable walking away because so much of the country’s military had been destroyed.
“I view it [the war] as very close to over,” he told Fox News Business. “If I pulled up stakes right now, it would take them 20 years to rebuild their country. And we’re not finished. We’ll see what happens.”
The remarks came as diplomats from Israel and Lebanon met in Washington for what both sides said were constructive talks amid ongoing warfare between the Israelis and Iran-backed Hezbollah militants in Lebanon.
The two-hour meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio did not result in a ceasefire declaration by Israel, but the parties agreed to begin direct negotiations at a later time.
Vance, who led US negotiations with Iran in Pakistan at the weekend, remains bullish about the prospect of a comprehensive deal to end the war, claiming that Trump was pursuing a much broader agreement that would reintegrate Tehran into global markets.
“We made a tonne of progress,” Vance said of the negotiations so far.
“But the reason the deal is not yet done is the president really wants a deal where Iran doesn’t have a nuclear weapon, Iran is not sponsoring terrorism, but also the people of Iran can thrive and prosper and join the world economy.
“That’s the trade that he’s offering. He said: ‘If you guys commit to not having a nuclear weapon, we are going to make Iran thrive, we’re going to make it economically prosperous’.
“That’s the kind of Trumpian grand bargain that the president has put on the table. We’re going to keep on negotiating and try to make it happen … I feel very good about where we are.”
White House officials said a second round of in-person talks with Iran was under consideration, but nothing had yet been scheduled.
