Vance Says US Iran Talks Progress but Strait Remains Closed

Vice President JD Vance stated on Saturday that the United States has made progress in negotiations with Iran but emphasized that the conflict is far from over, describing the situation as being "in the middle of the game." In an interview with Fox News, Vance said the U.S. is using a combination of diplomatic, economic, and military tools to secure the best outcome for the American people, while testing whether Iran is willing to make long-term changes for a better relationship with Washington.

The comments came as Iran and Oman have been in discussions over reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping lane that has been closed for months. The strait's closure has caused crude oil prices to spike and strained global energy markets. Vance noted that progress has been made in these talks over the last few days, but significant hurdles remain, including the need to clear mines laid by Iran early in the conflict and establish a safe traffic scheme for commercial vessels.

Iran has laid out a series of demands for reopening the strait, including the U.S. ending its naval blockade, withdrawing forces from the region, lifting sanctions, and paying reparations for war...