Ilayda Cakirtekin
April 08, 2026•Update: April 08, 2026
US Vice President JD Vance warned Wednesday that Iran would face consequences if it undermines a newly established “fragile truce,” stressing Washington’s military and economic leverage.
“If they’re going to lie, if they’re going to cheat … then they’re not going to be happy,” Vance said during a speech at Mathias Corvinus Collegium in Hungary.
He said the US holds a “clear military advantage” and “extraordinary economic leverage,” adding that a deal remains possible if Iran engages “in good faith.”
“If the Iranians are willing … to work with us, I think we can make an agreement,” he said.
‘Disappointed’ by Europe over Ukraine war
Vance also criticized European leadership over the Russia-Ukraine war, saying Washington has been “disappointed” by what he described as a lack of commitment to resolving the conflict.
He said most European capitals were not as helpful as Hungarian Prime Minister Victor Orban has been.
Questioning the continuation of the war, Vance said the conflict “has stopped making sense,” warning against prolonged fighting over limited territorial gains at the cost of lives and economic strain.
“Is that worth losing hundreds of thousands of additional Russian and Ukrainian young men?” he asked.
Slams Ukrainian remarks toward Hungary
Vance also condemned remarks by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy directed at Orban, calling them “completely scandalous” and “unacceptable.”
“You should never have a foreign head of government … threatening the head of government of an allied nation,” he said.
He further rejected claims that his visit to Hungary ahead of elections constituted foreign interference, arguing instead that EU pressure on Budapest amounted to undue influence.
"It's completely scandalous. You should never have a foreign head of government or a foreign head of state threatening the head of government of an allied nation. It's preposterous. It's unacceptable," Vance said.
"I've also been told that the Vice President of the United States coming and saying that Viktor Orban is doing a good job and is a helpful statesman to the cause of peace. That's foreign influence. But what's not foreign influence is when the European Union threatens billions of dollars withheld from Hungary because you guys protect your borders," Vance said.
He said that the reason behind his visit is because that Washington thought "there was so much garbage happening against" Orban and the election.
"We had to show that there are actually a lot of people and a lot of friends across the world who recognize that Victor and his government are doing a good job, and they're important partners for peace," Vance said.
