'Everything was working': Trump ally points to what changed before Iran strategy went off track
WASHINGTON, DC: Fox News contributor and Washington Post columnist Marc Thiessen criticized Vice President JD Vance's handling of Iran this week, arguing that his negotiations with Tehran have "failed" and made it much harder for the United States to secure victory in the war.
Thiessen, who is widely seen as an influential voice on foreign policy in Trump circles, began by highlighting what he said had worked in the administration's Iran strategy.
He praised Trump's military leadership, saying Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Central Command Chief Adm Brad Cooper had delivered major battlefield gains.
This included damaging Iran's nuclear program, destroying much of its defense industry, weakening its navy and air force, reducing its ballistic missile capabilities, and enforcing what he described as a crippling blockade on the country's ports.
Marc Thiessen blames JD Vance's negotiations
Thiessen then turned to what he called the biggest failure in the administration's Iran strategy, sharply criticizing Vice President JD Vance's diplomatic approach.
He argued that the ceasefire and memorandum of understanding negotiated by Vance had trapped the Trump administration in a cycle of negotiations, Iranian violations, and US retaliatory strikes, followed by more talks.
As an example, Thiessen said Trump was preparing to resume major military action last weekend but paused after being told Iran was ready to strike a deal. Instead, he wrote, Iran launched five ballistic missiles at a US military base in Jordan.
By elevating a deal as the definition of victory, Vance has given Iran a veto over America’s ability to declare victory. All it has to do is refuse to agree — which it is doing. pic.twitter.com/t7Go8FmVfh
— Marc Thiessen (@marcthiessen) July 31, 2026
Thiessen argued that the same pattern has recurred for months, with Trump repeatedly told that Iran is ready to negotiate, only for those efforts to fall apart.
He also claimed that by making a deal the measure of success, Vance had allowed Iran to dictate when the United States could declare victory by simply refusing to agree to one.
Marc Thiessen claims JD Vance is contradicting Trump
Thiessen also accused Vance of publicly undermining Trump's position on Iran, arguing the vice president has repeatedly sent a different message than the president.
"Worse, Vance continues to publicly contradict the president’s positions," Thiessen wrote.
He pointed to Vance's recent comments suggesting Trump could walk away if Iran failed to comply with a deal, arguing that was not the president's approach. According to Thiessen, Trump's position is: "They’ll comply or they will get blown up."
Thiessen also criticized Vance's warning during an interview with podcaster Joe Rogan that renewed fighting could send "94 million desperate people" into Europe and the United States, dismissing the claim as unrealistic.
