Vance: US rules out Iran talks until attacks on commercial shipping stop

The United States will not resume negotiations with Iran until attacks on commercial shipping attributed to Tehran come to an end, U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance said during a White House briefing.

“And our message to the Iranians is simple. It's been the same from the very beginning is you've got to stop shooting at commercial shipping. They've got to stop. It's that simple. And to your point about negotiations, the president's been very clear. We're not talking to them. And we're not going to talk to them unless they stop shooting at commercial shipping,” JD Vance said during a press briefing at the White House.

Vance said the administration's position was straightforward, arguing that an end to attacks on commercial vessels would be a necessary condition for renewed diplomatic engagement between Washington and Tehran.

The vice president also sought to characterize the current situation as less intense than an active war, while acknowledging that violence has continued to flare up in some areas.

“I wouldn't call it a war. Right now, there is no active shooting. And I recognize there is there have been places where this has flared up.”

During the briefing, Vance also highlighted U.S. efforts to support the movement of oil through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy corridor where maritime traffic has been disrupted since the conflict began.

Vance credited U.S. actions with helping to prevent a wider international energy crisis. However, continued uncertainty over the conflict has kept pressure on global energy markets.

Although the most intense fighting has subsided, periodic exchanges of fire and the absence of a definitive end to the conflict have contributed to elevated oil prices.

On September 1, the United States launched airstrikes against Iran, targeting what Washington said were military positions along Iran's coast. The strikes were described by U.S. officials as retaliation for Iranian attacks on commercial shipping in and around the Strait of Hormuz.

The escalation has added to concerns over the security of one of the world's most important oil transit routes and has contributed to a sharp rise in crude prices, with markets reaching levels not seen since July.

By Sabina Mammadli