Vance: Not One Cent of American Money Will Go to Iran Without Real Change

Vice President JD Vance is pushing back against criticism of the emerging U.S.-Iran agreement, stressing that Iran will not receive American money and will not gain access to major economic benefits unless it changes its behavior.

Speaking in interviews with Megyn Kelly and Fox News, Vance said the agreement is aimed at regional peace and would include the Gulf states, Israel, and Lebanon. But he made clear that Iran cannot continue funding terror groups like Hezbollah while expecting sanctions relief or outside investment.

“If Iran is funding Hezbollah, we're not going to allow a bunch of unfrozen assets to flow to the Iranians,” Vance said.

Vance also rejected claims that the United States is preparing to hand Iran large sums of money. He said any future investment would likely come from regional countries such as Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, or Saudi Arabia — and only if Iran follows through on its commitments.

“We’re not giving Iran American taxpayer money. Not one cent,” Vance said, drawing a sharp contrast with the Obama-era Iran nuclear deal.

According to Vance, the core of the agreement is Iran’s commitment not to build, buy, or obtain a nuclear weapon, backed by clear verification measures. If Tehran violates those commitments or continues backing terrorism, he said, Iran will receive none of the benefits.

Vance also pushed back on comparisons to the Marshall Plan, saying that plan involved major U.S. taxpayer spending, while this proposal does not. The administration’s position, he said, is that Iran only benefits if it changes course.

Reports from Al Arabiya claimed that a draft memorandum could include sanctions waivers, restoration of maritime traffic, oil export permissions, and a regional economic development plan worth hundreds of billions of dollars. President Donald Trump rejected claims that the U.S. would give Iran money unconditionally, calling the report false and saying Iran had agreed never to have a nuclear weapon.

The message from the administration is clear: Iran gets no blank check, no free reward, and no American taxpayer bailout. Any economic opening depends on Tehran ending its dangerous behavior, including its support for Hezbollah and the wider Iran-backed terror network.