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Pence calls for dismantling Iran's nuclear and missile programs, says Trump should let the military 'finish the job'

The Zioneer Intelligence Desk
Pence calls for dismantling Iran's nuclear and missile programs, says Trump should let the military 'finish the job'

Primary source Internal intake · 1 reviewed intake signal · Desk window 08:11

TL;DR

Former US Vice President Mike Pence said Iran cannot be trusted and that without a solid framework to dismantle its nuclear and ballistic missile programs, the US should allow its armed forces to 'finish the job' on American terms. The comments were reported by a Hebrew-language source Wednesday morning, amid ongoing debate over US-Iran negotiations.

01 · THE DISPATCH

Former US Vice President Mike Pence weighed in on the US-Iran talks in remarks published Wednesday morning, arguing that the Trump administration should not trust Tehran and should instead let the US military 'finish the job' on American terms unless a solid framework dismantles Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile programs and opens the Strait of Hormuz.

Pence's statement, quoted by a Hebrew-language source that described him as a former aide to 'Caligula' — a reference to President Trump, whom the source portrayed as distracted — adds to a growing chorus of criticism of the reported US-Iran memorandum of understanding. As The Zioneer reported at 06:57, Pence previously slammed the reported MOU as 'Obama-style appeasement,' citing $12 billion upfront.

The former vice president's latest call aligns with the position of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who The Zioneer reported on June 10 said the US would hit Iran 'hard on our terms' under 'Operation Epic Fury.' The remarks come as the Biden-era diplomatic thaw has given way to a tense standoff, with senior US officials telling the New York Times earlier this month that nuclear talks are uncertain after President Trump vowed to respond to Iran's downing of a US helicopter.

It remains unclear whether Pence's position reflects any internal administration debate, but his insistence on dismantlement rather than negotiation echoes the Pentagon's posture of maximum military pressure.

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This dispatch is published under The Zioneer Intelligence Desk. Raw intake channels remain internal provenance; an external outlet or channel is named only when it materially helps readers evaluate a specific claim.