Speaking at a joint press conference in Budapest alongside Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, Vance said the United States believed it was in a strong position following recent developments in the Iran conflict.

“We feel confident we can get a response from Iran by the president’s deadline,” Vance said, without detailing potential next steps if Tehran fails to comply.

US Vice President JD Vance has been placed on standby to play a more direct role in high-stakes negotiations with Iran, as Washington weighs diplomacy against the threat of further military escalation.

President Donald Trump has set a deadline for Tehran to respond to US demands, including steps toward reopening the Strait of Hormuz and curbing its nuclear activities, while warning of intensified strikes if talks fail.

Vance, who has taken an increasingly active role behind the scenes, has been in contact with intermediaries, including officials in Pakistan, as part of efforts to broker a ceasefire and outline a potential framework for de-escalation, a source previously told Reuters.

While formal negotiations have largely been handled by envoys such as Steve Witkoff and other senior officials, Iranian counterparts have shown a preference for engaging directly with Vance, viewing him as a more credible interlocutor amid internal divisions within the US administration, according to reports.

The vice president’s role reflects both his rising influence in foreign policy and a degree of caution he has expressed about prolonged US military involvement, even as he publicly backs the administration’s objectives in the conflict.

Diplomatic efforts have intensified in recent days around a proposed ceasefire plan, which envisions an immediate halt to hostilities followed by broader negotiations.

However, Iran has yet to accept the proposal, and key differences remain over sanctions relief, security guarantees and nuclear restrictions.

With US and Israeli military operations continuing and the risk of wider regional conflict rising, officials say Vance is being kept ready to step in more directly if talks reach a critical juncture or require higher-level political engagement.