Trump Says He Would Blame Vance if Iran Deal Fails, While Rubio Has Led Negotiations Since February

President Donald Trump joked at the G7 summit in Evian-les-Bains, France, on June 17, 2026, that Vice President JD Vance should be careful because he would be blamed if the Iran deal does not work out. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stood to Trump’s right during the media conference and stared straight ahead with a somber expression without cracking a smile.

Rubio has been involved in Iranian negotiations since they began in February.

He gave briefings to reporters on the details of the American position and sat through marathon hearings in the House and Senate. Earlier this month Rubio told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that Iran has no navy left, has lost a substantial percentage of its defense industrial base and missile launchers, and that its economy is far worse today than it was six to nine months ago.

Over the past week Vice President JD Vance, special envoy Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner became the public face of the 14-point Iran deal.

Vance took the podium in the White House briefing room on June 18 to answer questions about the plan. U.S. relationship with Iran over the last year and a half.

M. The White House released a statement on June 18 calling the vice president Trump’s right-hand man and an invaluable member of the president’s talented national security team. The text of the Iran agreement has already been signed by both the United States and Iran.

Vance postponed a planned trip to Switzerland for Iran talks on Thursday night. U.S. delegation has been prepared to depart at the first available opportunity but the logistics of these negotiations have never been simple or predictable.