Washington appears to be on the verge of a historic breakthrough in relations with Tehran. US Vice President JD Vance, in an interview with CBS News, stated that the US is on the final stretch of negotiations regarding Iran's nuclear program. According to him, the conditions for concluding a deal that will be beneficial to America both economically and strategically have aligned perfectly.
"To Ensure Iran Has No Nuclear Weapons"
Vance emphasized the long-term importance of the upcoming agreements. He stated that the goal is not just a temporary freeze of the program, but a solution for decades to come. "I believe we are in a position to conclude a deal... so that my children, when they grow up, can say: 'Iran will not have nuclear weapons'," the Vice President noted.
According to Vance, the implementation timeline of the plan is tied to the US political agenda. He expressed confidence that the deal will be reached before the midterm elections in November. At the same time, the official gave a wide time corridor: "I think we will learn a lot before the midterm elections... the deal could happen next week, but it could also happen in a few months".
Trump: "Final Stage" and the Helicopter Incident
The tone of optimism in the White House is supported by President Donald Trump as well. Earlier on Tuesday, he stated that negotiations are at the "final stage" and the deal could be signed within "two to three days".
However, the diplomatic process is not without incidents. Trump reported that Iranian forces shot down a US Apache helicopter near the Strait of Hormuz. According to CNN, the strike was carried out by an Iranian "Shahed" type drone. Despite this, the President attempted to prevent escalation, stating in a conversation with The Wall Street Journal that the incident "was not a big problem" and the helicopter pilot survived.
Nevertheless, Trump vowed that the US would respond to the attack. Now the whole world is watching how Washington will attempt to combine a tough response to the provocation with the conclusion of delicate negotiations regarding Iran's nuclear future.