US Vice President JD Vance on Thursday, 18 June firmly defended the Trump administration's newly signed Iran agreement, stating that Tehran would receive no meaningful economic benefits until it verifiably dismantled elements of its nuclear programme and demonstrably altered its regional conduct. Vance's remarks came a day after President Donald Trump signed a memorandum of understanding with Iran aimed at ending months of military confrontation.

Key Conditions for Sanctions Relief

Speaking at a White House briefing, Vance was unequivocal: sanctions relief is contingent on action, not assurances. He confirmed that Iran would be required to permit inspections, take verifiable steps to eliminate its stockpile of highly enriched uranium, and demonstrate broader behavioural change before any economic benefits are unlocked.

'If they don't change their behaviour, they don't get the benefit of the bargain,' Vance said. He added: 'No sanctions will come off unless they perform the benefit of the bargain, and every sanction will come back on.'

Early Signs of Stabilisation

Vance pointed to what he described as immediate, tangible gains from the agreement. He said more than 12 million barrels of oil had passed through the Strait of Hormuz overnight, and that both oil prices and petrol prices in the United States had declined from levels recorded during the conflict. 'The President's peace plan in Iran is already bearing real fruits for the American people,' he said.

He also stressed that the deal was structured around verification rather than trust. 'We don't trust words. We trust action, and we trust conduct,' Vance said.

How This Differs from the 2015 Obama-Era Deal

Vance drew a pointed contrast with the 2015 nuclear agreement negotiated under former President Barack Obama. 'The Obama deal allowed enrichment. Ours will not,' he said. 'The Obama deal gave them over $1 billion of American money. This deal gives them $0 of American money.'

He also noted that Gulf Arab partners — who had largely opposed the 2015 accord — supported the current framework. 'The Gulf Coast coalition loves this deal because they think that it makes Iran weaker,' he said.

Response to Critics and Next Steps

Facing scepticism from some Republican lawmakers and Israeli officials, Vance urged critics to allow the process time to unfold. 'So many of what I've read or heard that people believe about this deal is just fundamentally untrue,' he said.

He confirmed that Congress would receive a formal briefing on the agreement. Technical talks involving US and Iranian negotiators are expected to begin in Switzerland in the coming days. Washington has said it will closely monitor financial flows and retain the ability to restore economic pressure if Tehran fails to comply.

Regional and Global Context

The agreement follows months of military confrontation involving Iran, Israel, and US forces, which had raised serious concerns about regional stability and the security of global energy supplies. Notably, Vance said Iran's nuclear infrastructure had been 'destroyed' during the conflict — a claim that, if verified, would significantly alter the strategic calculus for any future negotiations. The coming weeks of technical talks in Switzerland will be the first real test of whether the framework holds.