US Vice President JD Vance on Wednesday said that multi-party negotiations with Iran in Doha were progressing positively, while cautioning that President Donald Trump would not rule out further military action if Tehran resumed its nuclear programme or targeted commercial shipping lanes.

State of the Talks

Vance made the remarks to reporters before departing Naval Air Station Oceana in Virginia aboard Air Force Two. He confirmed that negotiators from the United States, Iran, Qatar, and other nations were actively engaged in Doha on next steps following recent US military strikes on Iranian targets.

'Right now the negotiators are sitting down with the Iranians, with the Qataris and with others in Doha,' Vance said. 'Right now the talks are going well. It's still pretty early, but talks are going well.'

Commercial Shipping and Oil Prices

The Vice President said the immediate priority was restoring safe passage for commercial vessels through the region. He pointed to early signs of progress, noting that oil prices had fallen to $68 and that fuel costs were beginning to ease.

'Commercial traffic really does... It's already started in an amazing direction,' he said, adding that the nuclear issue would be addressed in subsequent rounds of talks.

Military Options Remain on the Table

Vance was unambiguous that diplomacy did not mean disarmament of US leverage. He said Trump had no intention of redeploying military force without clear cause, but drew firm red lines.

'If they try to rebuild their nuclear programme, if they try to start shooting at commercial vessels again, that's going to change our calculus,' he said. He added that any refusal to permit international nuclear inspections would also trigger a reassessment of the US posture.

Divisions Within Tehran

Asked about the coherence of the Iranian side, Vance suggested there were meaningful internal divisions within the Iranian leadership. He said Washington perceived growing momentum among Iranian officials who recognised that 47 years of confrontational foreign policy had been counterproductive.

'You've got people who actually recognise the last 47 years of their government has been a mistake and that they need to change their relationship with the United States, with Europe, with the Gulf Arab countries,' he said. 'And then you've got a few people who are still kind of attached to the old ways.'

He said the US would continue extending diplomatic space to those within Tehran seeking a course correction.

Background and What Comes Next

The Doha talks follow US military strikes on Iranian nuclear and military facilities ordered by President Trump after tensions escalated in the Gulf. Qatar has assumed a key mediating role between Washington and Tehran. The broader international community has urged de-escalation, with maritime security and nuclear non-proliferation both on the agenda.

Vance also briefly addressed domestic matters, declining to comment on the 2028 presidential election and saying the administration's focus was on near-term results. He said he believed Justice Amy Coney Barrett had 'made a mistake' in a recent birthright citizenship ruling, and dismissed speculation about a possible retirement by Justice Samuel Alito. How far the Doha process advances — and whether Tehran's internal divisions resolve in favour of engagement — will determine whether the current diplomatic window holds.