JD Vance's Iran role could shape his political future

WASHINGTON: US Vice President JD Vance is taking on what appears to be his most prominent foreign policy assignment so far, serving as President Donald Trump's lead negotiator in efforts to end the three-month war with Iran, a role that could influence his standing as a potential future White House contender.

The United States and Iran agreed on Wednesday to a provisional peace arrangement that halted fighting for now, while leaving major disputes to be addressed in talks over the next 60 days. The unresolved matters include Iran's nuclear programme, its backing of regional groups and the Strait of Hormuz, a key global shipping route.

The situation, however, remains unsettled. Vance cancelled a planned Thursday night trip to Switzerland for the opening of the talks, though the White House said the US delegation was prepared to leave at the earliest opportunity. The developments have unfolded alongside the release of Vance's book on his conversion to Catholicism, Communion, and a media campaign in which he has spoken about both his faith and the Iran initiative.

At a White House press conference on Thursday, Vance outlined Washington's hopes for a lasting agreement and also delivered remarks that some observers described as one of the sharpest US criticisms of Israel on record. He also brushed aside a question about a possible presidential bid. Speaking about Iran, Vance said:

“If the Iranians don’t change their behaviour, their military and their nuclear programme is still destroyed,” Vance said. “If they do change their behaviour, then they are going to have a transformative relationship with the Middle ​East, and the Middle East will have a transformative relationship with the people of Iran.”

Republican backing and political stakes

Republican figures have highlighted the significance of Vance's role. Senator Lindsey Graham described him as the architect of the provisional agreement and said any final deal should be submitted to the Senate for approval. Trump, meanwhile, joked at a Wednesday news conference during the G7 summit in Evian-les-Bains, France, that Vance faced a politically risky assignment.

“If it works out, I’m going to take the credit. If it doesn’t work out, I’m blaming JD!”

Representatives for Vance's office declined to comment.

Defending Trump amid criticism

Trump had campaigned on promises to reduce prices and avoid what he called forever wars in the Middle East. Inflation has since picked up and that Trump ordered strikes on Iran on February 28. Some Republicans have accused him of giving Tehran substantial concessions in an effort to ease economic pressures linked to the conflict.

Although Trump has portrayed the provisional accord as a sweeping military and diplomatic success, Iran's ruling system remains intact, it still holds ballistic missiles and a stockpile of highly enriched uranium, and it continues backing allies including Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Vance has publicly defended the president while also trying to create some distance from Trump's declining approval ratings. He has pointed to limited economic progress while saying more remains to be done. At Thursday's appearance, he said:

"Have a little bit of faith in the president of the United States. The idea that he is going to strike a deal that’s bad for the American people, it’s preposterous,"

Earlier in the week, Vance told conservative host Megyn Kelly that staying involved in the Iran war effort was necessary and that stepping away from it would be:

"a very immature way to approach ​the political process"

He also accused hawkish conservatives of wanting US military action to continue “until every bomb has been dropped, ⁠or until every Iranian is dead”.

Vance has warned against a wider war and has pushed for a diplomatic route for Trump. It described him as part of a rising faction in the Republican Party that wants to curb extensive US military involvement abroad.

Questions over Rubio's role

Vance's handling of the Iran file has also drawn criticism. Right-wing commentator Ben Shapiro said on Fox News that the vice president had not served the president well in the negotiations.

"In my opinion, the vice president — the chief negotiator on this project — has ​not well served the president,"

Trump appears to have made Vance, rather than Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the public face of the agreement, prompting questions among administration allies about Rubio's place in the process. A White House official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss private conversations, said no one on Trump's team opposed the provisional peace arrangement. The State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Rubio is also viewed as a possible contender for the 2028 Republican presidential nomination, although neither he nor Vance has said they intend to run. A person close to the White House, also speaking anonymously about private discussions, said the administration's handling of Vance's rise was consistent with how Trump has managed cabinet officials in his second term.

“This back and forth is throwing people off, but Trump knows what he’s doing,” the person said. “He is literally conducting a tryout in real time.”

Throughout the week, Vance has repeatedly referenced his new book during media appearances. During a Tuesday appearance on ABC's The View, where he faced questions on Iran, immigration and civil rights, he joked:

"Let’s talk about the book — I’m here to sell books."