JD Vance warns Iran not to play with the United States during planned negotiations.

PAR RORY ELLIOTT ARMSTRONG, with AP

Published on 10/04/2026 – 21:28 UTC+2•Last Updated 21:43

Vice President J.D. Vance warned Iran on Friday not to “play” with the United States before his departure to Pakistan for negotiations aimed at ending the war.

Donald Trump instructed the one he deemed most reluctant to conflict with Iran to find a diplomatic solution.

“If the Iranians are willing to negotiate in good faith, we are certainly ready to extend a hand to them,” J.D. Vance told reporters before boarding Air Force Two. But he added, “If they try to deceive us, they will realize that the negotiating team is not very receptive.”

J.D. Vance also stated that Donald Trump had given “fairly clear directives” on how the talks should proceed.

J.D. Vance’s trip comes as a fragile ceasefire was reached this week.

The American Vice President is accompanied by Donald Trump’s Special Envoy, Steve Witkoff, and the president’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, who have been involved in three rounds of indirect discussions with Iranian negotiators before the United States and Israel launched the war against Iran on February 28.

Keir Starmer describes ceasefire as “fragile”

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer met with senior Qatari officials during a visit to the Gulf country on Friday regarding what he called a “fragile” ceasefire.

According to him, “more work needs to be done, the Strait of Hormuz must be part of the solution. There can be no toll or restrictions on this navigation.”

In response to President Donald Trump’s threat to leave NATO, Keir Starmer emphasized that the transatlantic alliance has ensured the security of its members for decades but added that “there should be stronger European leadership.”

Donald Trump called the allies “cowards” and stated that NATO was “paper tiger.” After meeting with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte at the White House on Wednesday, the American President affirmed that NATO had not been there for the United States and would not be in the future if needed.

European leaders have remained on the sidelines of the war between the United States and Israel against Iran but have tried to make their voices heard to help consolidate a fragile ceasefire, ease fighting in Lebanon, and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

The war has put Europe in a delicate position, trying to maintain its support for the United States as a key NATO ally and resist occasional criticism from Donald Trump for not joining the fight and offering limited use of its military bases.

Israel expels Spain from Gaza surveillance body

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also expelled Spain on Friday from the international monitoring body for the Gaza Strip led by the United States.

“Today, I ordered the representatives of Spain to be withdrawn from the coordination center in Kiryat Gat, after Spain chose several times to oppose Israel,” said Benjamin Netanyahu.

The organization was established in October 2025 to monitor the implementation of the peace agreement sponsored by Donald Trump in Gaza and is based in Kiryat Gat, in the southern Gaza Strip.

Approximately 200 American soldiers work alongside Israeli army personnel and delegations from other countries in the center, planning the stabilization and reconstruction of Gaza.

Benjamin Netanyahu also stated that he would not allow any country with an anti-Israeli policy to participate in efforts in the Middle East. “I have no intention of allowing a country to wage a diplomatic war against us without immediately paying the price.”