Vance Announces 12.5 Million Barrels of Oil Cleared Strait of Hormuz Under New Iran Deal

WASHINGTON — Vice President JD Vance addressed reporters from the White House briefing room, revealing that 12.5 million barrels of oil successfully moved through the Strait of Hormuz last night. The massive energy surge follows the administration's decision to lift its maritime blockade, a key component of a newly signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) aimed at dismantling Iran's nuclear capabilities and stabilizing the Middle East.

Tackling widespread skepticism and rumors surrounding the deal—including conflicting figures circulating about potential financial benefits ranging anywhere from 24 billion to 300 billion dollars—Vance emphasized that the agreement is entirely conditional on Iranian conduct. He argued that the severe economic and military pressure applied by the President has left Iran in an incredibly weakened position, making this diplomatic opportunity a risk worth taking to alter Tehran's behavior toward both the West and its regional neighbors.

According to Vance, the agreement mandates very concrete nuclear commitments, starting with the total destruction of Iran's highly enriched uranium stockpile. In exchange, the U.S. has simply restored the Strait of Hormuz to its pre-conflict status to promote the free flow of global energy, dismissing the notion that the lifted blockade serves as an unearned reward. Vance emphasized that the administration places zero value on empty words or signed papers, asserting that the strategy revolves entirely around rigorous, absolute verification.

The diplomatic framework also features a critical component dedicated to regional peace between Israel and Lebanon. Vance explicitly stated that the administration expects the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah to completely cease launching rockets and drones at Israeli territory, while concurrently expecting that the Israelis refrain from aggressive military operations in Lebanon. He stressed that both factions must fully honor their respective sides of the bargain for the peace to hold.

The White House plans to brief Congress on the formal text of the signed agreement as early as this afternoon. Vance noted that while scheduling remains fluid due to the congressional session calendar, the administration's team is prepared to answer all formal inquiries from lawmakers, building on informal briefings that have taken place over the past week.

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