Trump Pulls Vance From Iran Talks to Focus on Fraud Fight
President Trump pulled Vice President JD Vance from Iran talks, saying the US needs no deal with Tehran, and told him to target fraud in Democrat-run states.
Image: Wikimedia Commons / Steve Jurvetson
Washington, Thursday, November 12, 2026 — President Donald Trump has pulled Vice President JD Vance from negotiations with Iran, declaring in a social media post that the United States does not need a deal with Tehran and telling Vance to focus instead on fraud in Democrat-run states.
In the post, published on his Truth Social account on Thursday, Trump wrote: "We don't need a deal with Iran. Those days have long since passed. We've got their money, Hundreds of Billions of Dollars, and we've got their Strait!" He said Vance would now give his "complete and total attention" to corruption and crime in Democrat-run cities and states, naming Minnesota, California and Illinois.
Key Takeaways
- Trump has ended Vance's role as lead negotiator with Iran, saying the US needs no agreement with Tehran.
- Vance had opened a channel with Mohsen Rezaei, Iran's security chief, and was considering face-to-face talks.
- Vance already leads the anti-fraud task force, created in March, which it says has found hundreds of billions in suspected fraud.
- Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner remain the lead negotiators with Iran.
Why Did Trump Pull Vance From Iran Talks?
The move is a sharp reversal. Days earlier, Trump told aides he was open to Vance reopening talks and had empowered him to negotiate. Last month, Vance wrote to Rezaei, the hardline secretary of Iran's top security body, with Trump's blessing, and the two sides discussed meeting in person.
Vance had led the administration's Iran effort and helped negotiate the 14-point memorandum of understanding signed in June, which opened a 60-day window for talks on ending the war. The window closed without a deal, and the memorandum collapsed weeks later when Iran attacked commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. Vance had also blamed the conflict for the Republicans' midterm losses. Trump said on Tuesday that the war was "effectively over", though the naval blockade stays.
| Date | Development |
|---|---|
| Feb 28, 2026 | US announces major combat operations against Iran |
| June 2026 | US and Iran sign 14-point memorandum, opening 60-day talks window |
| Weeks later | Memorandum collapses after Iran attacks vessels in Hormuz |
| Nov 12, 2026 | Trump pulls Vance from talks; says no deal is needed |
Who Is Negotiating With Iran Now?
With Vance out, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are the administration's primary negotiators with Iran. The two men were in Moscow on Thursday to meet President Vladimir Putin about the trilateral talks held in Abu Dhabi, which ended without a ceasefire. No new round of talks with Tehran has been scheduled.
The war began in late February, when the United States and Israel struck Iran, and Tehran has since sought to choke the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has warned it could strike American bases beyond the Gulf if US airstrikes resume, and its Revolutionary Guards said two oil tankers were disabled by explosions in the strait this week.
What Is Vance's Anti-Fraud Task Force?
Vance will now concentrate on the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, which he already leads. The task force investigates suspected fraud in government programmes, and the administration says it has found hundreds of billions of dollars in suspected fraud. Trump claims correcting the fraud could quickly balance the federal budget, though federal data does not support the suggestion that fraud occurs more often in states run by Democrats.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Trump remove Vance from the Iran talks?
Trump said Vance's time is better spent investigating fraud in Democrat-run cities and states, and declared the United States needs no deal with Iran. It reverses his decision days earlier to empower Vance to negotiate with Rezaei.
Does the United States still need a deal with Iran?
Trump says it does not. The administration is keeping the naval blockade in place. Witkoff and Kushner still provide a channel to Tehran.
Who is leading the Iran talks now that Vance is out?
Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. The two envoys met President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Thursday, after the Abu Dhabi talks ended without a ceasefire.
What fraud is Vance investigating in Democrat-run states?
The task force is examining suspected fraud, including a Minnesota investigation that has produced scores of arrests. The administration says it has found hundreds of billions in suspected fraud.
No new round of talks with Tehran has been scheduled.
