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JD Vance defended President Trump’s approach to Iran, saying the administration was using military strength to pursue negotiations.
US Vice President JD Vance speaks during an event marking 250 years of the American military at Naval Air Station Oceana in Virginia. (Source: Reuters)
United States Vice President JD Vance on Wednesday defended President Donald Trump’s approach to Iran, saying the administration was using military strength to pursue negotiations while maintaining that the United States retained military options if necessary.
Speaking to active-duty service members at Naval Air Station Oceana in Virginia Beach, Virginia, Vance said there were calls for the United States to continue military action against Iran but defended Trump’s decision to pursue negotiations.
“Today, as I sit here, there are people in this country who want you to just keep going and keep going,” Vance said.
He criticised those who had “attack the president of the United States for using the leverage that you gave him to engage in negotiation.”
“And why do we engage in negotiation?” he added. “Because of you. It’s not out of weakness, but it’s out of strength.”
‘Military Must Have Clearly Defined Objective’
Referring to his experience as a Marine deployed to Iraq, Vance said military force should be used with a clearly defined objective.
“There were people who learned the lesson that we could never use the military again, but that’s not the right lesson,” he said.
Also Read: ‘We Have Two Options’: Vance Says Trump Still Has Cards To Play If Iran Violates MoU Terms
“There were also people who learned a different lesson, an equally wrong lesson, that the solution to the problems that we had in the early 2000s was to ask you to do more and more and more and more without giving you a clearly defined objective,” he added.
Vance praised the military for carrying out Trump’s orders to strike military and nuclear targets in Iran and thanked service members for their role.
“You guys have done more in the last 18 months. The president of the United States has asked you to do more than I think any group of service members has ever been asked to do. And yet you’ve done it,” he said.
‘If Iran Rebuilds Nuclear Programme, President Has Options’
Vance said the administration would respond if Iran resumed activities that threatened US interests.
“If the Iranians try to rebuild the nuclear program, the President’s got options. If the Iranians try to threaten their neighbours or fund terrorism, we’ve got options,” he said.
“But what we must never do is drop bombs just for the sake of dropping bombs. And that is what the President will never ask you to do,” Vance said.
Also Read: ‘No Peace Talks, But Technical Talks’: JD Vance Calls It Iran’s ‘Persian Negotiating Tactic’
“He’ll ask you to go to war, yes. But when he asks you to go to war, he’ll tell you exactly what you’re going for. And I think that is what you should expect out of your political leadership,” he added.
‘Military Is America’s Source Of Strength’
Addressing the gathering, Vance also said the US military remained central to America’s global position.
“Bad guys and good guys, friends and foes, allies and enemies are afraid of you. They know that if we ask, you guys will go and make the impossible possible,” he said.
About the Author
Prisha is the Chief Sub-Editor at News18.com, with more than 10 years of experience in national and international news. She specialises in editorial leadership, sharp news judgment, and high-impact st…Read More
Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)
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