US Vice President JD Vance said Thursday that the United States will not hold talks with Iran unless Tehran stops attacking commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, hardening the Trump administration’s diplomatic posture after months of failed negotiations and escalating military clashes.
Vance warned that attacks on vessels are driving up gas prices and said the US is prepared to use economic, military, diplomatic, and covert options to pressure Iran. He did not specify a timeline for when talks might resume if the attacks ceased.
The statement reflects a breakdown in the June 17 agreement signed by President Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in Islamabad, which set a 60-day timeline to resolve remaining disputes. That deadline has now passed without a breakthrough, and shipping disruptions have continued.
Since February 2026, when the US and Israel began military strikes on Iran, the Strait of Hormuz—a critical chokepoint through which roughly one-fifth of global oil passes—has faced repeated closures and attacks. Iran has targeted multiple vessels using its military forces, while Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen have also resumed attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea.
The disruptions have had significant economic consequences. Oil prices spiked more than 9% in July 2026 after Trump reinstated a US blockade on Iranian shipping. Brent crude prices surged past $100 per barrel during the worst periods of the crisis, according to economic analyses, before moderating somewhat in recent weeks.
The Trump administration has pursued a strategy of combining military pressure with diplomatic overtures, but the approach has repeatedly stalled. In April 2026, initial peace talks in Islamabad collapsed after just 21 hours. Multiple rounds of negotiations since then have foundered over Iran’s continued attacks on shipping and the US blockade of Iranian ports.
Vance’s statement suggests the administration is now prioritizing the cessation of attacks as a precondition for any new diplomatic engagement, rather than negotiating while military operations continue. The US has maintained it can sustain the naval blockade on Iran indefinitely, according to statements in August 2026, signaling a long-term commitment to economic pressure.
Sources
- Moneycontrol — Vance’s statement that all options remain on the table against Iran and rules out talks until Tehran stops attacks on commercial shipping.
- Herald Corp — Vance’s declaration that the United States will not engage in talks with Iran unless it stops attacking merchant ships.
- Free Press Kashmir — Vice President Vance’s statement ruling out restarting talks while tensions over the critical shipping route continue to rise.
- Britannica — Trump and Pezeshkian signed the Islamabad Memorandum on June 17, 2026, with a 60-day timeline for agreement on unresolved issues.
- CNBC — Brent oil jumped more than 9% in July 2026, the biggest daily gain since 2020, after Trump reinstated the Iran blockade.
- Al Jazeera — Oil prices hit one-month highs as US-Iran attacks dimmed Strait of Hormuz outlook, with Brent crude nearing $85 per barrel.
- Congress Research Service — Iran attacked ships on June 25 and July 7-8, 2026, prompting US airstrikes; oil and petroleum products were greatly affected.
- UN News — The IMO condemned attacks on shipping in and around the Strait of Hormuz in July 2026 that killed at least two seafarers.
- Washington Institute — The US strategy appears aimed at pressuring Tehran into accepting a deal by raising the costs of refusal, including by threatening strikes.
