Vice President JD Vance warned Tuesday that President Donald Trump is prepared to restart military action against Iran if ongoing nuclear negotiations fail to produce a deal.
Speaking from the White House, Vance said the administration still prefers a diplomatic agreement but made clear that the United States is ready to return to military pressure if Tehran refuses to accept limits on its nuclear program.
According to Vance, Trump told him the U.S. remains “locked and loaded” if Iran does not agree to terms that permanently prevent the regime from obtaining a nuclear weapon.
“We are not going to have a deal that allows the Iranians to have a nuclear weapon,” Vance said during the briefing.
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The vice president said the administration sees two possible paths forward: a negotiated agreement that blocks Iran’s nuclear ambitions or renewed U.S. military action to achieve the same objective.
Vance also emphasized that another military campaign is not Trump’s preferred option.
“That’s not what the president wants,” Vance said, arguing that there is still an opportunity to reset U.S.-Iran relations after decades of hostility.
The comments come as negotiations with Iran continue amid rising tensions in the Middle East and growing concern over whether diplomacy can prevent another major escalation.
Vance said the United States will not accept an agreement that allows Iran to rebuild or preserve a pathway toward nuclear weapons capability.
Supporters of Trump’s approach argue that the administration is combining strong military deterrence with diplomatic pressure, forcing Iran to take negotiations seriously.
Critics, however, warn that threats of renewed strikes could make talks more difficult and increase the risk of a wider regional conflict.
Iran has continued insisting it does not seek nuclear weapons, while U.S. officials remain focused on preventing Tehran from developing or acquiring one.
The warning also comes as regional allies continue watching the talks closely, with Gulf nations concerned that a collapse in negotiations could trigger another wave of instability across the Middle East.
For now, the Trump administration says diplomacy remains possible, but Vance’s remarks made clear that military action remains on the table if talks break down.
🚨 NOW: JD Vance announces President Trump just told him he’s LOCKED AND LOADED to BLAST Iran to smithereens if they don’t make a deal
“We could restart the military campaign [to] achieve military’s objectives!”
“We’re locked and loaded.”
“But that’s NOT what the president… pic.twitter.com/5zvn3rSP8L
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) May 19, 2026
