US Seeks to Reset Ties with Iran, But Remains 'Locked and Loaded'

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - US Vice President JD Vance stated that the Trump administration sees an opportunity to reset relations with Iran after 47 years of hostility. However, he emphasized that Washington will not agree to any agreement that allows Tehran to possess nuclear weapons.

According to a report by Middle East Monitor, Vance made the statement to journalists at the White House on Tuesday, May 19, 2026. He said Trump has instructed his administration to continue opening up diplomatic space with Iran.

"We have an opportunity here, I think, to reset the relationship that has existed between Iran and the United States for 47 years," Vance said.

Diplomacy Remains a Priority

As reported by Fox News, Vance stated that Trump is still pursuing a diplomatic resolution with Iran. He indicated that the American government believes Iran also wants to reach an agreement.

"We think the Iranians want to make a deal," Vance said. "The president of the United States has asked us to negotiate in good faith. And that’s exactly what we’ve done."

Vance mentioned two possibilities that could result from this endeavor. First, reaching a deal that permanently prevents Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.

Vance emphasized that Washington will not accept an agreement that allows Iran to possess nuclear weapons. "We are not going to have a deal that allows the Iranians to have a nuclear weapon," he said.

If the negotiations fail, Vance said Trump is prepared to resort to the use of military force. "So as the president just told me, we're locked and loaded. We don't want to go down that pathway. But the president is willing and able to go down that pathway if we have to," he said.

Vance mentioned the second option is to restart military attacks to achieve Washington's goals. However, he stated that this is not the desired choice of Trump.

"There’s an option B, and the option B is that we could restart the military campaign to continue to prosecute the case, to continue to try to achieve America’s objectives. But that’s not what the president wants. And I don’t think it’s what the Iranians want either," he said.

Read: US Senate Advances Measure to Limit Trump's Iran War Powers

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