Vance Slams Claims of Iran's "Billions" in Asset Windfall

Vice President JD Vance obliterated claims that Iran will receive "billions of dollars of assets" in the upcoming U.S.-Iran deal, which is set to be signed later this week.

"When people say that billions of dollars of assets will be released, that's not true," Vance declared on "CBS Mornings." He emphasized that Iran's future hinges on their compliance with the agreement.

The U.S. has yet to disclose the full terms of the deal. However, Iran's Revolutionary Guard announced that they expect to access $24 billion in frozen funds during a 60-day negotiation period, with half of that amount required to be available before negotiations commence.

When pressed about the potential unfreezing of Iranian assets, Vance stated that while "we're open to a lot of things that are on the table," the $24 billion figure "just doesn't appear anywhere in any of the texts that we've talked about with the Iranians."

Vance clarified that discussions about unfreezing assets are secondary to a more significant issue: unsanctioning Iran's economy, contingent upon their long-term commitments regarding their nuclear program.

He pointed out that hardliners in Iran will misrepresent the deal to appease their domestic audience. "But I think, again, the text is very clear," he asserted. "There's nothing about $24 billion."

The vice president indicated that the Trump administration plans to unveil the complete text of the U.S.-Iran agreement this week, stating, "we want the American people to see it."

"Sometimes with these agreements, there are some diplomatic protocols, some technical things to work out, but we plan to release the full text this week," Vance added.

Vance criticized misreporting surrounding the agreement, claiming it broadly "ensures that Iran will never have a nuclear weapon while simultaneously opening the Strait of Hormuz."

He described the deal as a gesture towards Iran, saying, "look, if you guys are willing to honor your obligations if you're willing to allow real inspections of your nuclear program, then we will welcome you back into the world economy."

Regarding enforcement of the nuclear aspects of the agreement, Vance did not dismiss the possibility of U.S. military involvement to ensure compliance with nuclear material regulations, although he expressed skepticism about its necessity.

"We certainly talked with the Iranians about how we're going to destroy that enriched stockpile," Vance stated. The technical details will be addressed during upcoming talks on Friday.

Vance confirmed that the administration is collaborating with the U.N. nuclear watchdog and Iranian officials to eliminate the enriched stockpile.

"Whether we play an observer role or whether we play a more active role, these are the sorts of things that we'll figure out in technical talks," he said. "But what the president has made very clear is the United States will be there to confirm that that enriched stockpile of material is destroyed."