U.S. Vice President JD Vance said Thursday that the 60-day ceasefire window with Iran has begun, during which the sides will try to reach a final agreement following the signing of the memorandum of understanding. On Israel, Vance criticized what he called a “weird panic” and “freakout” over the agreement struck between the U.S. and Iran, as the Trump administration sought to tamp down criticism of the deal.
“I would say the 60-day period officially started today,” Vance told reporters at a White House briefing. Asked what happens after the 60-day period regarding governance of the Strait of Hormuz, Vance repeated the U.S. view that the major supply route for oil and gas shipments should remain free of tolls.
JD Vance talks about Iran deal
(Video: Reuters)
“The final negotiations can set the terms of what comes afterwards,” Vance said.
Asked about ballistic missiles, a clause not explicitly included in the memorandum of understanding, Vance said: “We do expect that in the final agreement, Iran will not have missiles that can threaten the world.”
Vance made the remarks at a press briefing after criticizing two Israeli ministers in an interview with The New York Times. “Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, what is your proposal?” he said.
Vance said he had not heard such comments from Netanyahu but criticized members of the Israeli leader’s cabinet, whom he said have attacked the deal and personally attacked Trump.
“My message to them would be twofold. No. 1: Donald J. Trump is the only head of state in the entire world who is sympathetic to the nation of Israel at this moment in time,” Vance told reporters at the White House.
“If I was in the cabinet of the Israeli government, I might not be attacking the only powerful ally that I have anywhere left in the entire world.”
He said he would also remind those cabinet members that two-thirds of the defensive weapons that have protected Israel “have been built by American hands and paid for by American tax dollars.” The United States provides Israel with roughly $4 billion in military assistance a year.
“The problem for Israel is not Donald J. Trump and anybody in Israel who thinks their biggest problem is the president of the United States needs to wake up and smell the reality of the situation that country is in,” Vance said.
On Lebanon, which according to the memorandum of understanding is also included in the ceasefire framework, Vance said Israel would have to respect the peace process with Iran, which he said was good for Israel. He added that attacks in Beirut that kill civilians were “not acceptable.”
The interim pact signed by President Donald Trump and Iranian leaders pushed the most difficult issues to the next stage of negotiations, with no guarantee they will be resolved. Most analysts are skeptical the two sides can reach a final settlement within the 60-day window set out in the memorandum of understanding.
First published: 19:12, 06.18.26