U.S. Vice President JD Vance has told intermediaries working between Washington and Tehran that President Donald Trump is “impatient” to secure an agreement to end the ongoing hostilities, according to a CNN report. Sources told CNN that Vance delivered a “stern message” to Iranian leaders warning of “increased pressure” on Iranian infrastructure sites unless Tehran reached a deal.
The warning follows repeated threats from President Trump to target critical civilian facilities — including water desalination plants and power stations — if Iran does not allow oil tankers to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. Such statements have drawn accusations from critics that the administration is contemplating actions that could amount to war crimes and have raised fears of reciprocal strikes on civilian infrastructure across the Persian Gulf.
CNN reported that Trump, who is due to deliver a national address on Iran this week, asked Vance to convey a U.S. readiness to agree to a ceasefire only if specific American conditions are met. A central demand is that the Strait of Hormuz be reopened; Trump reiterated in a social media post that the strategic waterway must be unblocked before the United States will consider ending military operations.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, speaking to Al Jazeera, acknowledged that direct communications with the U.S. continue through Washington’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, but stressed these messages do not constitute formal negotiations. “I receive messages from Witkoff directly, as before, and this does not mean that we are in negotiations,” Araghchi said, adding there is “no truth to the claim of negotiations with any party in Iran” and noting Iran’s deep distrust of the U.S. after Washington’s withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal.
On the contested issue of the Strait of Hormuz, Araghchi argued the chokepoint lies within the territorial waters of Iran and Oman and should remain under their authority after the war. He defended Tehran’s current restrictions as lawful wartime measures that bar ships from countries at war with Iran, while remaining open to most other nations. Araghchi’s remarks suggested Iran seeks dominant influence over post-conflict governance of the waterway, despite calls from Gulf states such as Qatar to be included in those discussions.
Addressing the prospect of a U.S. ground invasion, Araghchi dismissed the likelihood and warned that Iran is prepared to defend its territory. “We are waiting for them,” he said, adding, “I don’t think they’d dare to do such a thing. There will be a lot of strength waiting for them.” (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Original Source: https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/iran-war-us-vice-president-jd-vance-issues-stern-message-to-iran-over-deal-11299338#publisher=newsstand
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Publish Date: 2026-04-02 03:03:00
