Vance: US 'In the Middle of the Game' With Iran
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- Vice President Vance said Saturday the U.S. has made progress in negotiations with Iran but warned the war is still "in the middle of the game" as the Trump administration presses Tehran for concessions to end the conflict.
- Vance indicated the U.S. will keep pressure on Iran if it rejects long-term changes, signaling the Trump administration is not close to declaring a deal, per cross-coverage of his remarks.
- Oman, mediating the Hormuz talks, characterized negotiations as positive, but Iran warned any deal would not reopen the Strait of Hormuz until the U.S. changes its behaviour — a caveat the dominant framing of "progress" largely downplays.
- UAE reported that Iran targeted a tanker during the same period the talks were underway, per another outlet covering the story, underscoring that diplomatic progress is occurring alongside continued maritime confrontation.
Why it matters: Vance's "middle of the game" framing signals the Trump administration sees a negotiated end to the Iran conflict as unresolved despite public talk of progress, meaning sanctions pressure and military posture toward Tehran remain in place — a gap Iran is exploiting by demanding behavioral changes before reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
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