Vance says U.S. isn’t giving Iran ‘a cent’ as he defends Trump peace deal

US Vice President JD Vance speaks during a press briefing in the Brady Briefing Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on June 18, 2026. Ken Cedeno | AFP | Getty Images Vice President JD Vance defended President Donald Trump's interim peace deal on Thursday, insisting the United States is not paying the Islamic Republic and that any economic benefits for Iran depend on full compliance with the agreement. "The United States isn't giving up a cent of money to Iran," Vance said. His comments came as the White House faced Republican backlash over whether Trump gave Iran too much in a 14-point memorandum of understanding that includes sanctions relief, access to frozen funds, and a proposed $300 billion reconstruction plan. "The only way the Iranians get any of these resources ... is if they comply fully" with the terms of the deal. Vance pushed back on criticism that lifting sanctions amounted to a major concession . "The choke point on Iranian oil was never the sanctions. We didn't see that as a major concession to the Iranians," Vance said. Vance argued that Iran was already selling oil despite U.S. sanctions, which he described as "fundamentally ineffective" by the time of the deal. He said lifting the sanctions could actually give the U.S. more visibility into Iran's financial activity. "By lifting the sanctions, we're actually going to be able to see a little bit where their financial system actually sends money and receives money," Vance said. …