'It's Going to Be Messy': JD Vance Signals Long Road Ahead for US-Iran Nuclear Talks

The White House is projecting optimism on Iran.

But it's also preparing for a long and difficult negotiation.

US Vice President JD Vance cautioned that any agreement with Tehran would take time, describing Iran's leadership as deeply divided and the diplomatic path ahead as "messy."

Speaking to Fox News, Vance said negotiations are complicated by competing power centres within Iran, where some leaders want to move beyond the conflict while others remain committed to confrontation.

"The Iranians are extraordinarily difficult people," Vance said. "They have a fractured system. There are people within their system who want the war to be over, and there are also people who are crazy radicals who want the war to continue."

"Our job is to navigate through that and get the best outcome."

His remarks come just a day after President Donald Trump struck a far more upbeat tone, saying "a lot of progress" had been made and claiming Iranian officials had reached out seeking fresh talks.

"We'll know in 48 hours," Trump told reporters, adding that Iran would be "very smart" to strike a deal.

Vance, however, made it clear that expectations should be tempered.

"It's going to be messy and it's going to take some time to get there," he said, while expressing confidence that the eventual outcome would favour the United States.

He reiterated that Washington would continue to use every lever available—including military, economic and diplomatic pressure—to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.

"I can tell you with confidence it's going to go in a place that is good for the United States," Vance said. "We're going to use all the tools that we have—military, economic and diplomatic—to make sure we bring this thing to the right resolution."

The comments come amid renewed efforts to revive diplomacy after the collapse of the June memorandum that had temporarily eased hostilities and sought to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

While Trump has projected confidence that a breakthrough may be close, Vance's remarks suggest the administration expects negotiations with Tehran to remain unpredictable—and far from straightforward.

(With inputs from ANI)