Swapna Kumbar , Bengaluru - US Vice President JD Vance issued a sharp warning to Iran, saying the United States remains locked and loaded to restart military operations if current negotiations over Tehran’s nuclear program collapse. Speaking during a White House briefing, Vance said diplomatic discussions were making good progress, but stressed that Washington was fully prepared to return to military action if Iran refused to accept conditions preventing it from developing nuclear weapons.

Vance explained that the Trump administration sees only two possible outcomes: a negotiated agreement ensuring Iran never obtains nuclear weapons, or renewed US military strikes. “We don’t want to go down that pathway, but the president is willing and able to if we have to,” Vance said, reinforcing President Donald Trump’s increasingly hardline stance toward Tehran. Trump recently revealed he had been “an hour away” from approving fresh strikes on Iran before deciding to allow diplomacy more time following requests from Gulf allies and mediators. The warning comes as the fragile US-Iran ceasefire remains under heavy strain amid disagreements over sanctions relief, uranium enrichment, and the future of the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian officials have continued insisting on maintaining parts of their nuclear infrastructure, while Washington demands guarantees that Tehran will never pursue nuclear weapons capability. Analysts say the escalating rhetoric from both sides reflects how quickly the region could return to open conflict if negotiations fail. Oil markets and global shipping routes are also closely watching the talks, with fears that renewed fighting could again disrupt energy supplies across the Gulf.

Despite cautious optimism from negotiators, Vance’s remarks underline that military pressure remains central to Washington’s strategy toward Iran. With both diplomacy and military preparations advancing simultaneously, the coming days are expected to play a critical role in determining whether the US and Iran move toward a lasting agreement or another dangerous phase of confrontation.