Pence Urges Caution with Iran Talks

Former Vice President Mike Pence has expressed concerns about the Trump administration’s upcoming discussions with Iran, urging officials not to repeat the errors seen during the Obama and Biden administrations. His comments came during an appearance on “Fox & Friends” on Thursday, where he acknowledged recent military achievements while emphasizing the need for Vice President J.D. Vance and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff to firmly demand Iran’s complete withdrawal from its nuclear ambitions.

Pence stated, “The last thing we want is a new nuclear deal with Iran. During my time in office, we withdrew from that agreement and implemented maximum pressure. However, the Biden administration quickly returned to a policy of appeasement.”

Mr. Vance and Mr. Witkoff are set to travel to Pakistan this weekend for negotiations, following a tentative two-week ceasefire recently announced by President Donald Trump. Pence insisted that it is crucial for the U.S. to ensure that Iran not only ceases its nuclear weapons program but also opens up the Strait of Hormuz and stops supporting regional proxies.

Pence added, “My hope is that when the vice president and our negotiating team go to Pakistan, they will clearly outline what we want from this agreement. It’s important that we hold to our commitments moving forward.”

He also emphasized the need for the U.S. military to be prepared to act if Iran fails to meet its obligations, criticizing the Biden administration’s decision to end the maximum pressure campaign as a significant blunder. Pence mentioned, “President Trump has managed to create a scenario where there seems to be a path toward a diplomatic resolution, but it will require the sheer strength of America and our allies.”

Mr. Vance pointed out that Iran appears open to negotiations and indicated that the reopening of the strait and the ceasefire signal a willingness to engage. However, he echoed Pence’s warning that there would be “serious consequences” for any breaches during the talks.

“We certainly don’t want the Iranian people to suffer, but the president has considerable leverage at his disposal,” Vance remarked. “That’s why it’s crucial for Iran to come to the table honestly,” he added.