Vice President JD Vance said Thursday that the U.S. and Iran maintain unwritten "gentlemen's agreements" regarding uranium stockpiles and nuclear ambitions [1].
These comments suggest that the Trump administration's strategy toward Iran relies on informal understandings that exist outside the public terms of official treaties. This approach challenges the preference for transparent, codified agreements often demanded by international monitors and political critics.
Speaking during a White House press briefing in Washington, D.C., Vance said the existence of these side deals is defended [2]. He said to reporters that the two nations have reached informal understandings on how Iran manages its nuclear program [3].
The Vice President's remarks address long-standing tensions within the GOP and among international allies regarding the stability of U.S. commitments to Iran [4]. By acknowledging these unwritten pacts, Vance indicates that the administration views flexible, non-public diplomacy as a viable tool for preventing nuclear proliferation, a stance that differs from the rigid verification processes typically associated with nuclear arms control.
Vance did not provide specific details on the contents of these agreements, but he said such arrangements are necessary for managing the complex relationship with Tehran [1]. The briefing occurred as the administration continues to navigate the volatile geopolitical landscape of the Middle East and the ongoing scrutiny of its nuclear non-proliferation strategies [2].
“the U.S. and Iran maintain unwritten "gentlemen's agreements" regarding uranium stockpiles”
The admission of 'gentlemen's agreements' reveals a diplomatic strategy that prioritizes deniability and flexibility over the legal certainty of formal treaties. By relying on unwritten understandings, the U.S. administration can manage Iran's nuclear trajectory without the political risk of a public treaty that could be overturned by domestic opposition or future leadership changes, though it risks instability if either party decides the informal deal is no longer beneficial.
