U.S. Vice President JD Vance said Thursday that Iran, like Israel, does not forfeit its right to self-defense under the emerging nuclear framework, but said the final agreement should prevent Iran from building missiles that can 'widely threaten the entire world,' according to a statement carried by The Zioneer. The remarks extend the administration's symmetry argument on self-defense to the Islamic Republic directly.
Vice President JD Vance on Thursday extended the Trump administration's symmetry argument on self-defense to Iran, stating that while the Islamic Republic retains its right to self-defense within its own state, the final nuclear agreement should bar Iran from building intercontinental-range missiles.
"Everything the president said yesterday is that, of course, countries don't waive their right to self-defense. Israel doesn't waive its right to self-defense if Hezbollah fires rockets or drones at Israel. And the Iranians don't waive their right to self-defense in their own country — but we do expect that within the framework of the final agreement they will not be able to build the kind of missiles that can widely threaten the entire world," Vance said.
The remarks follow a series of U.S. statements this week affirming that no party to the emerging framework forfeits its right to self-defense — a line Vance himself has articulated repeatedly in recent days. As The Zioneer reported Thursday evening (18:49 Jerusalem), Vance had earlier cited Israel's right to self-defense in parallel terms. The symmetry formulation now explicitly includes Iran for the first time in Vance's own words, rather than being attributed to anonymous officials.
Vance's comments did not specify what missile ranges or capabilities the administration considers a deal-breaker, nor did they address verification mechanisms — both remain open questions as the framework continues to be negotiated.
4 developments
- StrongVP Vance reiterates Israel's right to self-defense in CBN interview
- DevelopingVP Vance: Deal does not mandate Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon, self-defense right retained
- DevelopingSenior US official: no country will waive self-defense right due to Iran deal
- DevelopingVance declines to deny Israeli espionage claim against US
Source and signal
- Internal intake