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The Times of Israel is liveblogging Tuesday’s events as they unfold.
Vance: Lots of progress made in Pakistan talks, there could be ‘a grand deal’ but ball is in Iran’s court
The United States made “a lot of progress” in talks with Iran, US Vice President JD Vance says in an interview on Fox News’ Special Report with Bret Baier.
Vance, asked whether more negotiations are coming, says the ball is in Iran’s court, explaining that he left the talks in Pakistan last weekend because “the [Iranian] team that was there was unable to cut a deal and they had to go back to Tehran — either from the supreme leader or somebody else — and actually get approval for the terms that we had set.”
“The big question from here on out is whether the Iranians will have enough flexibility, whether the Iranians will accept the critical things that we need to see in order for things to get done,” Vance says during the interview. “We must have the enriched material out of Iran. We must have their conclusive commitment to not develop a nuclear weapon.”
“If the Iranians are willing to meet us there, then this can be a very, very good deal for both countries.”
“Whether we have further conversations, whether we ultimately get to a deal, I really think the ball is in the Iranian court because we put a lot on the table,” Vance continues. “We actually made very clear what our red lines were. We also made really clear, Bret, we actually would be very happy… if Iran was treated like a normal country, if it had a normal economy, if its people were able to prosper and thrive. But in order for Iran to be a normal country economically, it’s going to have to be a normal country from the perspective of not pursing a nuclear weapon, and its going to have to be a normal country from not pursuing terrorism.”
“I really think there is a grand deal to be had here, but it’s up to the Iranians I think to take the next step.”
Vance adds that the US expects Iran will make progress on opening the Strait of Hormuz, warning that the negotiation would change if Tehran does not.
“We have the cards, we have the military advantage, we now have additional economic pressure that we’re applying on them through the blockade that we’ve imposed on their oil coming out of the Straits of Hormuz,” he says.
WATCH: "The ball really is in their court," @VP JD Vance tells @BretBaier, stating that while the U.S. has defined its red lines for a "grand deal," the Iranian delegation lacked the authority to finalize terms without approval from Tehran. pic.twitter.com/h0dpzDaP7O — Special Report (@SpecialReport) April 13, 2026
WATCH: "The ball really is in their court," @VP JD Vance tells @BretBaier, stating that while the U.S. has defined its red lines for a "grand deal," the Iranian delegation lacked the authority to finalize terms without approval from Tehran. pic.twitter.com/h0dpzDaP7O
— Special Report (@SpecialReport) April 13, 2026
US energy secretary warns oil prices likely to rise until ‘meaningful’ traffic resumes through Hormuz
Oil prices are likely to continue rising until “meaningful” ship traffic resumes through the Strait of Hormuz, likely in the next few weeks, US Energy Secretary Chris Wright says.
Wright tells the Semafor World Economy forum in Washington that despite previous comments he made that oil prices would likely come down soon, they are likely to stay high or even rise until a substantial flow of traffic resumes through the Straight of Hormuz.
Senate majority leader says US has been ‘effective’ in Iran war but needs a plan to end it
Senate Majority Leader John Thune says the United States has been “effective” in the war with Iran but needs a plan to end it.
“They do need a plan for how to wind this down, how to get an outcome that actually leads to a safer, more secure Middle East and, by extension, a stronger national security position for the United States,” Thune tells reporters after returning from a two-week recess Monday.
On Trump’s blockade of ships entering or leaving the Strait of Hormuz, Thune says that “penalizing those who do business with the Iranians may get people’s attention,” including China, which depends on energy in the region.
“That probably more than anything else right now, is going to be the key issue to resolving the situation, getting the Iranians to the table,” Thune says.
He also says it’s his understanding that a potential request from the White House to pay for the war has been scaled back, but he doesn’t give a specific number.
Congress is still waiting for the request, which could total hundreds of billions of dollars. The Pentagon sent the White House a request for $200 billion last month, but Trump has not yet asked Congress to approve any new amount for the war.
Thune, a Republican from South Dakota, says the request will be an “inflection point” for Republicans, as Congress will have to vote to approve it. That is a “power that Congress has to influence what happens there,” he says.
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