JD Vance Warns Iran Against Trying To 'Play Us' Before Ceasefire Talks

Vice President JD Vance warned Iran against trying to "play" the U.S. in ceasefire negotiations as he heads to Pakistan.

Speaking to press before boarding, Vance said: "As the president of the United States said, if the Iranians are willing to negotiate in good faith, we're certainly willing to extend the open hand. If they're going to try to play us, then they're going to find that the negotiating team is not that receptive."

"We're trying to have a positive negotiations. The president has given us some clear guidelines and we're going to see," Vance added.

President Donald Trump, on his end, also issued a warning to Tehran, saying that all "U.S. Ships, Aircraft, and Military Personnel, with additional Ammunition, Weaponry, and anything else that is appropriate and necessary for the lethal prosecution and destruction of an already substantially degraded Enemy, will remain in place in, and around, Iran, until such time as the REAL AGREEMENT reached is fully complied with."

"If for any reason it is not, which is highly unlikely, then the 'Shootin' Starts,' bigger, and better, and stronger than anyone has ever seen before. It was agreed, a long time ago, and despite all of the fake rhetoric to the contrary - NO NUCLEAR WEAPONS and, the Strait of Hormuz WILL BE OPEN & SAFE. In the meantime our great Military is Loading Up and Resting, looking forward, actually, to its next Conquest. AMERICA IS BACK!" he added.

It is still unclear whether talks will take place, as Tehran has said it won't engage unless there is a cessation of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon. Israel and the United States have rejected the notion, but Trump had said Netanyahu will "low-key" attacks. However, attacks have continued.

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi told global diplomats that Tehran doesn't "seek a ceasefire that allows the aggressor to rearm and carry out aggression again, and we have clearly told our friends that this situation will not be repeated without guarantees."

In the meantime, Islamabad has been locked down to guarantee the talks' safety. NBC News described empty roads, checkpoints at major arteries and tightened security with additional troops and police deployed across the city.

Originally published on IBTimes

Tags

Pakistan, Iran, United States