Vance says economic pressure is key to forcing Iran to change course

US Vice President J.D. Vance has described economic pressure as the most effective tool available to Washington to influence Iran, saying the US hopes tougher measures will persuade Tehran to reconsider its position.

“Well, their nuclear facilities are destroyed, but the question is, do they try to rebuild them? And so, fundamentally, what we're trying to do is create a changed reality on the ground where not just we can say with confidence their facilities have been destroyed, but we can also say with confidence they're never going to try to rebuild. And that's the phase that we're in now,” Vance said in an interview with the Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show YouTube podcast.

Vance said Iran was facing more serious difficulties than the United States but acknowledged that the conflict was also creating risks for Americans, including higher fuel prices linked to Iran’s efforts to block the Strait of Hormuz.

US President Donald Trump has announced an “economic D-day” aimed at pressuring Iran into reaching a deal and threatened “tremendous economic consequences” for countries that continue doing business with Tehran.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has urged China, a major trading partner of Iran, to “get with the program.” Washington, however, faces limited leverage over Beijing to compel it to comply.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry warned that those ordering or implementing the proposed economic measures “are liable to prosecution and punishment.”

The Trump administration has also imposed new sanctions on Hezbollah and redesignated the group as an Iranian proxy.

By Sabina Mammadli