What They’re Saying About the U.S.–Iran Talks—June 21, 2026
U.S.
President Donald Trump | Comments to Journalist
“You [the Iranian regime] close [the Strait of Hormuz] and you won’t have a country. You won’t even make it back to your fucking country. . . . We may take over the Strait, if we have to. If they don't make a deal, we’ll collect tolls.”
President Donald Trump | Truth Social
“Iran must immediately stop their highly paid PROXIES in Lebanon from causing trouble. If they don’t, we’ll hit Iran very hard again, just like we did last week, only harder!!!”
President Donald Trump | Comments to Journalist
[Commenting on Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian’s comment that Iran will not give up enriching uranium]
“He better watch his mouth . . . or we will take over the rest of the country.”
President Donald Trump | Comments to Journalist
“I have a 60-day option. I can do whatever I want after that option.”
President Donald Trump | Comments to Journalist
“I am disappointed Israel cannot put Hezbollah away. They can’t do anything without knocking buildings down. I am close to giving this to Syria because [President Ahmed al-Sharaa] would do a more precise job.
Vice President JD Vance | Press Availability
“We've already made great progress over just the last few hours [of negotiations], and I expect it will make additional progress [in the coming hours].”
Vice President JD Vance | Press Availability
“What today [the U.S–Iran negotiations in Switzerland] really represents is the beginning of a technical negotiation that's not going to solve every disagreement, but is going to allow us to sit together as teams, for the first time really in history, to figure out what matters most to the respective parties, to settle those issues, to solve those issues, and get to a better tomorrow. . . . We got a lot of work to do. We’re excited to do it.”
Vice President JD Vance | Press Availability
“The opening of the Strait of Hormuz, the ending of the Iranian nuclear program—these things have already been accomplished. The question is now how much more we can accomplish together. Can we change relations in the Middle East permanently, or do we go back to doing things the old way, which is not our preference but certainly a thing that can happen.”
Vice President JD Vance | Press Availability
“The Qataris, the Pakistanis, our friends in Israel—we are all working toward regional peace. Of course, there are going to be sometimes disagreements about how to get there. But I actually feel great about where we are in Lebanon. There is still some additional wood to chop, but we are going to keep working on it.”
Vice President JD Vance | Press Availability
“If your leadership is willing to give up being a driver of regional instability, if they are willing to give up nuclear weapons ambitions in the long term, then the United States is willing to fundamentally transform our relationship with that country.”
Vice President JD Vance | Press Availability
“I think Trump and the U.S. have done more to stop the conflict in Lebanon than any government anywhere in the world. Peace is never easy. Peace always requires a little bit of work. It always requires a little bit of give and take. But Trump is committed not just to peace between the U.S. and Iran. Trump is committed to a regional peace.”
Vice President JD Vance | Press Availability
“We want to transform the Middle East. Iran has been a driver of regional instability. Now we see a future where everybody can work together to promote peace and prosperity for everyone.”
Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz | Press Interview
“We’re going to keep their nuclear program destroyed and have it permanently destroyed, as opposed to the past where it was ongoing and we were basically bribing them to not continue. It’s a totally different negotiation dynamic.”
Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz | Press Interview
[Question: “[Sen.] Tom Cotton said this [MOU] will allow Iran to sell its oil based on pre-war production levels, between 150 [million] and 200 million dollars every day, up to $6 billion per month. What do you think they will spend that money on?”
“First, that money is not going into some kind of slush fund. It’s oil revenue. It’s going to places we can still monitor. If it’s not going to the places that were agreed upon, we can absolutely turn it back off. The president can put the blockade back in. . . . The key point here is that we have that military option. And all options are on the table.”
[Question: “The president himself says he wants to avert economic disaster and that we are weeks away from a fuel shortage. He seems to be saying that he wouldn’t necessarily want to return to conflict if that's the cost of it. The credible use of force seems in question.”]
“But there’s nuance there . . . in that, in the United States, we are producing more [oil and gas] than we ever have. Venezuela is now producing. Countries like Guyana in South America have new finds that we are helping [with]. We are getting more oil and gas on the market. Some of our allies absolutely have been affected, particularly in Asia. The president has that in mind as he is negotiating. He has also seen in the UN, for example, the entire world condemning this regime. They are diplomatically isolated . . .”
Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz | Press Interview
“Just a few months ago, analysts said oil would be upwards of $150-$200 a barrel, and it is now under $80. Everyone wants cheaper energy. What [President Trump] is doing is striking that balance with ensuring that a genocidal regime can never have a nuclear weapon.”
Energy Secretary Chris Wright | Press Interview
“Iran is still behaving like Iran.”
Energy Secretary Chris Wright | Press Interview
“"Yesterday, 67 ships went through the Strait of Hormuz. The day before, it was 55 ships. In terms of oil and oil products—about equal to where we were before the conflict.”
Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee | Speech
“Iranians want to kill every last American and annihilate the U.S. The warm-up act is to annihilate Israel. Americans may not understand it, but Iran has always been a threat.”
Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Tom Cotton | X
“Israel is our democratic ally fighting Hezbollah, Iran’s terrorist proxy with American blood on its hands. President Trump is right: Iran needs to restrain its terrorist proxy, the U.S. should never restrain Israel from defending itself. And if Iran won’t act, we should back Israel to the hilt.”
“To the Iranians, if you are listening: When you use Hezbollah to attack Israel, the new policy will be, we will attack Iran.”
Sen. Lindsey Graham | Press Interview
[Question: “You wrote nine days ago [that] the idea of a U.S. plan with partners to create a fund of at least $300 billion is tone deaf. It's akin to a Marshall Plan with the Nazis still in charge. Why did you change your position?”]
“Before I thought the money was coming from the West.”
[Question: “You are okay if it doesn’t come from the U.S.?”
“Yeah. If the Arabs do it. Can you imagine if Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates invest $300 billion in Iran? That would tell me that Iran has changed. I doubt it will.”
“If we won [the Iran War] he wouldn’t have signed a surrender document that gives them more concessions than every previous president combined.”
“Every President has thought they can change the nature of the radical Iranian government. The only way to get positive change is if the regime collapses. Thus, not a single penny should go to help rebuild Iran with the Ayatollah’s in charge.”
ISRAEL
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu | Remarks at Memorial Service
“We have achieved tremendous results, and we will not surrender them. We will remain in the security zone in southern Lebanon for as long as it takes in order to protect the residents of the North, who are dear to us, and the citizens of the entire country. As prime minister of Israel, I hold a firm stance on that which nothing will change. And with regards to Iran: Whatever the diplomatic developments may be, I will not allow Iran to arm itself with nuclear weapons. As long as I am the prime minister of Israel, this will not happen.”
“While Israel and Lebanon pursue peace talks, Hezbollah keeps firing - seeking to derail diplomacy, tighten Iran's grip on Lebanon, and destabilize the region. Israel will uphold the ceasefire if Hezbollah stops its attacks. Like any sovereign nation, Israel has the right to defend its citizens.”
IRAN
Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf | X
“Don’t they think to themselves that if their threats had any effect, they wouldn't have reached the point of despair today? We don’t count on the threats of the Americans. They better be careful with their statements, our armed forces are ready to respond in another way. Whatever they say, we are the ones who will act.”
Mohsen Rezaee, Military Adviser to the Supreme Leader and IRGC Official
“America was supposed to force Iran to surrender through the strategy of ‘peace through strength’; now that they’ve failed, out of desperation they’re insisting on negotiations. But the enemy has shown itself to be a promise-breaker. We must be cautious; any optimism will be exploited by the enemy.”
President Masoud Pezeshkian | Presidential Website
“What the United States demands is that Iran not build an atomic bomb. This is nothing new, and we can also state in writing that we have no intention of building a bomb. However, we will not relinquish our right to enrichment, and the other side will have no choice but to accept this right.”
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei | Comments to Journalists
“Clause 13 of the Memorandum of Understanding is very explicit: the start of negotiations for a final agreement is conditional upon five specific provisions, including Clause 1 of the memorandum, which concerns a cessation of hostilities on all fronts, including Lebanon. We know that this clause has not been implemented, and the United States has either been unable or unwilling to ensure its implementation. The Israeli regime continues to violate its commitments. This issue is the main subject of today’s talks.”
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei | X
“The Islamic Republic of Iran is determined to meticulously and seriously pursue the process of implementing the other party's commitments. Today’s meeting in Switzerland is to follow up on the implementation of the provisions of the memorandum of understanding on the termination of the war dated June 18, 2026. According to paragraph 13 of the memorandum of understanding, the start of negotiations for the final agreement is contingent upon the implementation of paragraphs 1, 4, 5, 10, and 11. Without the implementation of these provisions, especially paragraph 1 (termination of the war on all fronts, including Lebanon), entry into the negotiation phase for the final agreement is not possible. Today’s discussions are focused on the implementation of the aforementioned paragraphs, especially paragraph 1, as well as a review of the measures envisaged for implementing paragraphs 10 (the matter of Iran's oil exports) and 11 (the release of Iran's frozen assets).”
GULF STATES
“Qatar will stay dedicated to this partnership to support these mediations until the end, until we reach a solution. We will always be partner in bringing more peace, prosperity, and hopefully, better future for our region.”
UNITED NATIONS
International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Grossi | X
“Met with @SwissMFA’s @ignaziocassis in Bürgenstock 🇨🇭 to take stock of recent developments regarding Iran, the path ahead and the important role of the @IAEAorg. At this critical moment, it’s important to give diplomacy every opportunity to succeed.”
Mai Sato, Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights Situation in Iran
“The 14-point memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran focuses almost entirely on the withdrawal of military forces, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, nuclear commitments, the lifting of sanctions, and a $300 billion reconstruction fund, but human rights are overlooked in it. Millions of Iranians took to the streets and demanded fundamental changes. Their voices must be heard in every negotiation that claims to secure their future. Any final agreement must include accountability and reparations for victims, a halt to the implementation of executions, the release of those arbitrarily detained, and protection of civic space. Since the start of the war, Iranian authorities have detained thousands of people, and it has been reported that many of them have been tortured or forcibly disappeared. At least 156 people have also been executed. Baha’i, Kurdish, and Baloch Iranians remain particularly at risk. The end of hostilities must not be mistaken for the restoration of rights and freedoms for the people. For the people of Iran, the path to achieving these rights has yet to begin.”
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