Vice President JD Vance speaks during a news conference at the White House June 18, 2026. Vance is expected to travel to Lucerne, Switzerland, on Friday for follow-up talks after President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian signed an agreement to end the war between the countries. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
Final peace negotiations between the United States and Iran officially began Thursday, Vice President JD Vance said at a behind schedule morning news conference in Washington, launching a 60-day countdown for the Islamic Republic to safely open the Strait of Hormuz, the U.S. lifting of the blockade on Iranian oil and the two nations forging a nuclear deal.
The agreement is “a win-win situation” for the US, said Vance.
“If they change their behavior, big things will happen for Iran and for the world,” Vance said. “If they don’t, it won’t matter to us,” because Iran’s nuclear program and military are “still destroyed.”
The agreement Immediately stop hostilities that began on February 28th. The war claimed the lives of 13 U.S. soldiers and thousands of civilians in Iran, Lebanon and throughout the Gulf region and disrupted the global economy.
Vance said that “the Israelis, just like everyone else, must respect this process” and stressed that the deal requires Israel to stop its bombing campaign in Lebanon against Iranian-backed Hezbollah fighters.
Without giving a date, Vance said he expected to brief Congress but was “fairly confident” that the administration would not need congressional approval of the terms of the deal that will lift sanctions on Iran Claims some US senators.
“I just signed it.”
Vance was scheduled to finalize the 14-point memorandum of understanding in Switzerland on Friday, but President Donald Trump made a surprise announcement early Thursday morning that he had signed the agreement while attending a state dinner hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron at the Palace of Versailles following the conclusion of the G7 summit of the world’s richest nations.
“I just signed it,” Trump told reporters after hugging and saying goodbye to French President and First Lady Brigitte Macron shortly after 1 a.m. local time, the traveling press reported.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian posted images of the signed agreement in English and Farsi on social media early Thursday.
“This text reflects the voice of a nation that has not traded its dignity and independence for threat or pressure. What was recorded today was the result of national resilience, political rationality and responsible diplomacy,” he said wroteaccording to a translation on X.
Trump posted a series of messages about the signed memorandum on his own social media page, Truth Social, on Thursday morning, including a link to a news article about Pope Leo praising the deal. The Trump administration busy in a public war of words with Leo in April.
“These idiots who think I haven’t been tough enough on Iran when the stock market just hit a record high and oil prices ‘collapsed’ are either jealous, bad people or stupid. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!! President DJT,” the president posted online early Thursday.
Hours later he wrote in all caps: “OIL IS FLOWING, IRAN CAN NEVER HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON (THE WORLD WILL BE SAFE!), THE STOCK MARKETS are ROARING, JOBS ARE AT RECORDS AND PRICES ARE FLOWING (AFFORDABILITY!). OUR COUNTRY IS STRONG, SAFE AND RESPECTED THAN EVER.” BEFORE.” “You’re welcome!” President DJT”
“Foreign policy mistake”
Several, including some from the president’s own party, expressed criticism of the agreement.
Sen. Bill Cassidy, a Louisiana Republican who recently lost his primary after Trump endorsed an opponent, said in a opinion On social media, the deal is “the worst foreign policy mistake in decades.”
“Reagan is turning in his grave. Iran’s nuclear ambitions have not been curbed, and they have learned that threatening the Strait of Hormuz is working and will undoubtedly bring benefits in the future. Now Iran can build an entirely new infrastructure under this deal.”
“Before the war, the Strait was open, Iran was crushed by sanctions and 13 service members were still alive. Now 13 Americans are dead, families have paid billions at the pump, sanctions are being lifted and the bombing has stopped.”
Senator John Kennedy, also a Republican from Louisiana, said on the Senate floor Thursday morning: “We should give peace a chance. It’s only 60 days and we just have to trust the president on this.”
Jonathan Shorman contributed to this report.
