Vance to Lead U.S. Iran Deal Talks, Taking 2028 Political Risk

3 articles · Updated · POLITICO · Jun 18

Vance said Thursday he will lead the U.S. team in negotiations over the finer points of the Iran peace deal and expects to leave this weekend for talks.
The White House is pitching the agreement as a carrots-and-sticks framework: Iran would get concessions and economic relief if it complies, but Trump has warned U.S. strikes could resume if it does not.
That public role makes Vance the face of a fragile accord at a politically dangerous moment, with some Republicans angry the deal goes too far and others angry the war happened at all.
Allies argue the bigger risk was letting the conflict drag on and damage the economy, betting peace and lower fuel costs — already framed around sub-$4 gas — matter more by 2028 than the war itself.
The stakes remain fluid because Israel has kept striking Lebanon, Iran is threatening new Strait of Hormuz shipping fees, and even Trump has joked that Vance will get blamed if the deal fails.