US Vice President JD Vance said on Wednesday that President Donald Trump continues to favor a diplomatic outcome with Iran, even as tensions remain high.
Speaking about the upcoming round of discussions in Geneva, Vance said on Fox News' "America's Newsroom" programme, "We're sitting down having another round of diplomatic talks with the Iranians trying to reach a reasonable settlement."
The negotiations, scheduled for Thursday, will focus on Tehran’s nuclear activities, an issue that has long been at the center of friction between the two countries.
Vance emphasised that preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons remains Washington’s central objective. He described Iran as "the largest state sponsor of terrorism in the world" and warned that it must not be allowed to "threaten the world with nuclear terrorism."
He added that Trump has consistently maintained that Iran cannot be permitted to develop such capabilities.
While reiterating diplomacy as the main approach, Vance made it clear that other options remain on the table if negotiations fail. He also expressed hope that Iran approaches the talks seriously, noting that "He hoped Iranians took Trump's preference seriously in negotiations on Thursday."
At the same time, he avoided commenting on internal Iranian leadership, declining to address whether the US would want Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to step down.
Parallel to diplomatic outreach, the Trump administration has intensified its pressure campaign. On Wednesday, Washington imposed fresh sanctions targeting individuals and entities accused of supporting Iran’s missile program, drone production, and illicit oil trade.
The latest sanctions affect 30 individuals, companies, and vessels, according to US officials. These measures come amid a significant US military buildup in the region, described as one of the largest in decades, involving warships and aircraft.
Among those targeted are ships allegedly linked to Iran’s so-called “shadow fleet,” a network of aging oil tankers used to bypass sanctions and transport crude. In addition, drone manufacturers such as Qods Aviation Industries were included. US authorities claim the company has supplied drones "to all branches of the Iranian military and buyers in Africa and Latin America."
The sanctions, issued by the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, block access to US-based assets and prohibit American individuals and businesses from engaging with the listed entities. However, officials acknowledge that many of those sanctioned may not hold significant assets within US jurisdiction, making the measures partly symbolic.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the US would maintain its hardline approach, stating, "Treasury will continue to put maximum pressure on Iran to target the regime’s weapons capabilities and support for terrorism, which it has prioritized over the lives of the Iranian people." The move underscores Washington’s dual-track strategy of combining negotiations with economic and military pressure.
Talks in Geneva will involve US representatives, including envoy Steve Witkoff, and Iranian officials, with mediation by Oman. The discussions come months after US strikes in June targeted three Iranian nuclear facilities.
Despite ongoing tensions, Iran has consistently insisted that its nuclear program is intended for peaceful purposes. However, it had previously enriched uranium up to 60% purity, bringing it close to weapons-grade levels of 90%.
Trump, speaking during his State of the Union address, criticized Tehran’s intentions, saying, "We wiped it out and they want to start all over again. And they’re at this moment again pursuing their sinister ambitions." He added, "We are in negotiations with them. They want to make a deal, but we haven’t heard those secret words: We will never have a nuclear weapon."
As negotiations resume, the gap between diplomacy and confrontation remains narrow, with both sides facing mounting pressure to reach a breakthrough.
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