Vance: US expects Iran to restore Hormuz oil flow safely

US Vice President JD Vance said Saturday that the United States expects Iran to restore the flow of oil and gas through the Strait of Hormuz to pre-conflict levels and ensure the safe passage of commercial vessels, stating that Tehran has communicated its willingness to Washington while emphasizing that American policy remains verification over trust.

Oil flow restoration

Speaking to Fox News, Vance said Iran had conveyed its intention to maintain pre-conflict export volumes. "Our expectation is you're going to see the same amount of oil and gas come out of the Gulf that you saw before the conflict started," he said. "But you know, we don't trust. We verify," Vance added, stressing that Washington would judge Tehran by its actions rather than its statements.

The vice president said the US is monitoring Iranian statements regarding potential tolls on vessels using the strategic waterway. "The Iranians have told us they have no plans to toll the Strait of Hormuz," he said, noting that the administration would evaluate Tehran based on its deeds.

Maritime security measures

Vance said Washington also expects Iran to commit to not firing on commercial vessels transiting the chokepoint. "That also includes a commitment from the Iranians that they're not going to fire at commercial vessels," he stated, adding that Tehran and Gulf countries, particularly Oman, have been discussing mechanisms to maintain safe maritime traffic.

Iran laid "a large number of mines" at the start of the conflict, Vance noted, making demining and the establishment of a secure traffic scheme critical priorities. "What we're really working through now is how you can actually set up a traffic scheme so that the ships that pass can pass through safely. That includes, of course, demining," he said.

Military pressure campaign

Vance acknowledged that Iran's military capabilities have been severely degraded during the hostilities. "We've destroyed their nuclear program, we've destroyed their conventional military, we've radically reduced their asymmetric military abilities," he said. "They're hurting in a big way. They want this thing to be over," Vance added, questioning whether Iran’s political system could deliver the changes Washington demands.

The administration intends to sustain pressure to secure regional energy exports, Vance said. "We're just going to keep on applying the pressure that we can apply and getting as much oil and gas out of the Middle East so that Americans can enjoy lower gas and energy prices," the vice president stated.