JD Vance: US Would Benefit from Unfreezing Iranian Assets, Middle East Would Be Safer

Washington - US Vice President J.D. Vance has said that unfreezing Iranian assets would benefit the United States and help strengthen the security architecture in the Middle East region. “If Iranian assets are ever unfrozen, that money will be used to enrich American farmers and feed the Iranian people. It is a very, very good deal, and very classically Trump. It is good for our people, good for the Iranian people, and fundamentally, once again, will contribute to the regional security architecture we have been building,” Vance told reporters in Switzerland on Monday. The US and Iran held talks in Burgenstock, Switzerland, on Sunday, with Qatar and Pakistan acting as mediators. The US delegation was led by Vance, while the Iranian delegation was chaired by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf. Both Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ismail Baghaei and Vance subsequently announced progress in the discussions. Last week, the US and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding online regarding a cessation of the military conflict that began on 28 February. The document also sets a deadline for the US to lift its naval blockade and for Iran to restore shipping traffic in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has also pledged not to acquire nuclear weapons, while the issue of Iran’s nuclear programme will be resolved through a separate agreement. The parties will hold negotiations on that matter within 60 days. For Iran, the outcome must include the lifting of sanctions against the country.