WASHINGTON — Vice President JD Vance said Tuesday that President Trump may decide to take “further action to end Iranian enrichment” for its nuclear program but stressed that those worried about more “foreign entanglement” should trust the commander-in-chief as he navigates the Israel-Iran conflict.
Vance, known for his more isolationist foreign policy views, stressed that Trump has the ultimate authority on whether to involve the US military and has been “amazingly consistent” about the need to curb Iran’s nuclear program for more than a decade.
“The president has shown remarkable restraint in keeping our military’s focus on protecting our troops and protecting our citizens,” Vance wrote in a lengthy post on X.
“He may decide he needs to take further action to end Iranian enrichment. That decision ultimately belongs to the president. And of course, people are right to be worried about foreign entanglement after the last 25 years of idiotic foreign policy.”
Trump has said he’s open to using the US military to attack Iran to end its nuclear program for good — but that he’s still trying to get a deal via diplomacy.
The president threatened to take out Iranian leader Ayatollah Khomeini on Tuesday afternoon after returning from the G7 meeting in Canada early and meeting all morning with his national security team.
“We know exactly where the so-called ‘Supreme Leader’ is hiding. He is an easy target, but is safe there – We are not going to take him out (kill!), at least not for now. But we don’t want missiles shot at civilians, or American soldiers. Our patience is wearing thin,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
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On his way back from G7, Trump had also said he wanted “a real end, not a cease-fire, an end” to the Israel-Iran conflict, which Tehran could achieve by surrendering immediately.
Vance, who has led other foreign policy negotiations including for the Russia-Ukraine war, stood by Trump in his statement but acknowledged supporters who have disagreed with the president’s rhetoric since Israel chose to launch airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear sites and take out key military leaders.
“I believe the president has earned some trust on this issue. And having seen this up close and personal, I can assure you that he is only interested in using the American military to accomplish the American people’s goals. Whatever he does, that is his focus,” he added.
Trump has lashed out at critics to his right who have questioned his approach following Israel’s large-scale attacks on Iran’s nuclear facilities and top military leaders.
The president called conservative media titan Tucker Carlson “kooky” for saying an American invasion of Iran would mean an “end of the American empire” and be an “end to Trump’s presidency.”
Read the latest on the conflict between Israel and Iran
In his Friday newsletter for his eponymous network, Carlson had urged Trump to not participate in the war “at any level” and “drop Israel” to “let them fight their own wars.”
“I don’t know what Tucker Carlson is saying. Let him go get a television network and say it so that people listen,” Trump told reporters on Monday at the G7.
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard was also reprimanded for her views on Iran.
“I don’t care what she said — I think they were very close to having one,” Trump told reporters on Air Force One in response to a question about Gabbard saying in March Iran was not close to getting a nuclear weapon.