Vance Says Iran Is Ignoring US Red Lines in Talks, Military Option Still on Table

‘The president reserves the ability to say when he thinks that diplomacy has reached its natural end,’ Vance said.

Vice President JD Vance at the White House on Jan. 8, 2026. Kevin Lamarque/Reuters

U.S. Vice President JD Vance said on Feb. 17, following mediated talks between Washington and Tehran in Geneva, that Iran was ignoring Washington’s red lines, primarily those related to its nuclear program, which has been a bone of contention in U.S.–Iranian relations for years.

“In some ways, it went well; they agreed to meet afterwards,“ Vance said during a Fox News interview. ”But in other ways, it was very clear that the president has set some red lines that the Iranians are not yet willing to actually acknowledge and work through.”