Vice President Says U.S. Wins Either Way in Iran Talks

Vice President Vance said Friday that the United States wins "either way" in negotiations with Iran, regardless of whether a final agreement is reached. "If we make the final deal, then great," he told HBO's Bill Maher. "If we don't make the final deal, their nuclear program is still destroyed.

Oil prices have fallen to $73 a barrel, he said. The comments came hours before reports emerged of a tanker struck by a projectile in the strait and of strikes launched by both the United States and Iran. Washington said it hit Iranian targets overnight, while Iran said it struck targets linked to U.S. forces on Saturday in response.

The incidents followed a 60-day memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran that established an interim ceasefire. An attack on a cargo ship on Thursday preceded Saturday's tanker incident. Vance offered that if Iran is willing to give up nuclear weapons ambitions for the long term, the United States is willing to transform its relationship with the country.