A thrill records of “Today with George Stephanopoulos” broadcasting on Sunday, June 22, 2025 on ABC Information is listed below. This duplicate might not remain in its last type, might be upgraded and might consist of small transcription mistakes. For previous program records, check out the “Today” records archive.
JONATHAN KARL, ABC “TODAY” CO-ANCHOR: Mr. Vice Head of state, thanks for joining us.
The huge concern now is the USA–
J.D. VANCE, VICE HEAD OF STATE OF THE UNITED STATES: Many Thanks, Jon. Many thanks for having me.
KARL: Certainty.
The huge concern, is the USA currently up in arms with Iran?
VANCE: No, we’re not up in arms with Iran, Jon. We go to battle with Iran’s nuclear program. And I believe the head of state took definitive activity to damage that program last evening.
If I can go back a little. We need to provide an extraordinary quantity of gratefulness to the soldiers that did an outstanding point last evening. Consider this, Jon, they tossed– they flew hundreds of miles away, a 30-hour continuous trip. They never ever touched down on the ground. And they went down a 30,000-pound bomb on a target regarding the dimension of a cleaning maker. No armed force worldwide has the training, the abilities and the devices to do what these people did last evening.
I understand the head of state and I are both extremely happy with them. And I believe what they did was achieve an extremely core American nationwide purpose. Iran can not have a nuclear tools program. The head of state’s been extremely clear regarding this. And many thanks to the fearlessness and capability and ability of our terrific pilots and everyone that sustained this objective, we took a significant progression for that nationwide purpose last evening.
KARL: It absolutely was a complicated and frustrating objective, 125 airplane included, we are informed. Can you claim absolutely that Iran’s nuclear program has– has currently been damaged?
VANCE: Well, Jon, I do not intend to enter the delicate knowledge right here, however we understand that we have actually established the Iranian nuclear program back significantly last evening. Whether we– whether it’s years or past that, we understand it’s mosting likely to be a long time prior to Iran can also construct a nuclear tool if they intend to.
Yet I really believe that increases one of the most crucial concern. The head of state discussed this last evening. We desire Iran to quit their nuclear tools program in harmony. Yet there is no other way that the USA is mosting likely to allow Iran have a nuclear tool. Therefore, they truly need to select a path, Jon, are they mosting likely to decrease the course of ongoing battle, of financing terrorism, of looking for a nuclear tool, or are they mosting likely to deal with us to quit nuclear tools completely. If they want to select the clever course, they’re absolutely mosting likely to discover a ready companion in the USA to take apart that nuclear tools program. Yet if they choose they’re mosting likely to strike our soldiers, if they choose they’re mosting likely to remain to attempt to construct a nuclear tool, after that we are mosting likely to reply to that with frustrating pressure.
So truly what occurs following depends on the Iranians.
KARL: So– however– however allow me pierce down on what was completed, due to the fact that there’s a– there’s a record today in “The New York City Times” that Fordo, that deep, below ground enrichment center, was seriously harmed, however not completely damaged. Yet the head of state stated last evening the enrichment centers have actually been entirely and absolutely took out.
Can– can we claim that definitively, or are we simply uncertain yet? I imply, have those centers been taken out?
VANCE: Well, Jon, seriously harmed versus taken out, I’m not specifically certain what the distinction is. What we understand is we establish their nucleal program back significantly.
KAR: Well– well, one– I imply–
VANCE: And I– once again, Jon, I do not intend to enter extremely delicate knowledge regarding what we understand, however I really feel exceptionally certain, and I can claim to the American individuals with terrific self-confidence that they are a lot better far from the nuclear program today than they were 1 day earlier. That was the purpose of the objective, to damage that Fordo nuclear website and, certainly, do some damages to the various other websites also. Yet we really feel extremely certain that the Fordo nuclear website was significantly held up, which was our objective.
KARL: The– the UN’s atomic power guard dog stated that Iran had 900 extra pounds of very enriched uranium. What– do we understand what has come to be of that? Is– was it damaged in this strike? Do we understand? That’s a large accumulation.
VANCE: Well, we’re mosting likely to operate in the coming weeks– indeed, Jon, we’re mosting likely to operate in the coming weeks to make sure that we do something keeping that gas. Which is among the important things that we’re mosting likely to have discussions with the Iranians around.
Yet what we understand, Jon, is they no more have the capability to transform that accumulation of very enriched uranium to tools quality uranium. Which was truly the objective right here. Uranium is not that challenging ahead by, Jon, however enhancing uranium as much as the factor of a nuclear tool, that is what the head of state stopped last evening.
KARL: Today, the Russian response captured– captured my eye. Dmitri Medvedev, certainly, the previous head of state, head of state of Russia, currently, the replacement chairman of Russia’s protection council, stated the enrichment of nuclear product, and currently we can claim it outright, the future manufacturing of nuclear tools will certainly proceed. A variety of nations prepare to straight provide Iran with their very own nuclear warheads.
What do you construct from that Russian action? And are they– they off-base? I imply they’re– they’re claiming that the nuclear program in Iran is– is still well underway.
VANCE: Well, firstly, I believe it’s a strange action, however I additionally do not understand that that individual promotes Head of state Putin or for the Russian federal government.
Among the important things that we have actually grabbed, Jon, in our discussions with the Russians over the last couple of months, regardless of our lots of disputes, certainly, with the state of Russia, they have actually been extremely regular that they do not desire Iran to obtain a nuclear tool.
And– and this is what I believe lots of analysts underappreciated regarding what the head of state did last evening. Iran having a nuclear tool, nuclear expansion between East, is a catastrophe for practically everyone. It is among minority concerns where Russia, China and the USA have wide contract is that we do not intend to see a nuclear arms race between East.
So, what the head of state did was extremely crucial. I’ll– I’ll allow Head of state Putin speak with what the main Russian placement on this is. Yet I really feel extremely certain that both for Russia, for China, and most significantly, certainly, for us, we do not desire Iran to have a nuclear tool. And I believe that that objective is mosting likely to remain to stimulate American plan for the following couple of years.
KARL: Well, Head of state Trump, last evening, additionally endangered added army activity if Iran strikes back or if tranquility does not come rapidly. Just how rapidly are we speaking about? Are we speaking about days? Are we speaking about weeks?
VANCE: Well, appearance, Jon, I’ll allow the head of state make those decisions, really. Yet we’re currently mosting likely to have a significant discussion regarding exactly how to remove Iran’s nuclear tools program completely, suggesting they need to select not to have a nuclear tools program, and they need to provide this point up.
Currently, if you return a little, Jon, what we have actually stated continually and consistently is, they can not have a nuclear tool. We completed the objective of placing them back significantly last evening.
Yet there are 2 huge points that the Iranians are mosting likely to need to select from right here. Primary, do they strike American soldiers in the area? If they do, as the head of state stated, you’re visiting frustrating pressure from the Americans. If they remain to seek a nuclear tool, you’re additionally visiting frustrating pressure from the American individuals.
So, we have actually obtained truly the round in Iran’s court right here. If they make clever choices, I believe they’re mosting likely to discover us going to deal with them. If they remain to sustain terrorism, nuclear tools programs, after that they’re mosting likely to discover frustrating American pressure from the American armed force. That is truly the option prior to the Iranians. Which’s a selection just they can make.
KARL: So, what revenge are you anticipating? I imply I understand what you’re wishing for, however they have actually promised revenge. What are you gotten ready for? What are you getting out of the Iranians?
VANCE: Well, it’s constantly tough to think what the opposite is mosting likely to do. Yet what we’re gotten ready for is, if they strike us in an optimum instructions, firstly, we have actually obtained optimal protective pose. I believe that we’re mosting likely to have the ability to safeguard as a lot of our individuals as feasible. And, certainly, I would certainly motivate Americans to wish our people between East due to the fact that, yes, they are under a considerable quantity of pressure and a considerable quantity of risk now.
Yet after that, certainly, Jon, if the Iranians strike us, they’re mosting likely to be met frustrating pressure. And I do not believe the head of state can be more clear regarding this. If– if you take a look at what we did the other day, Jon, we did not strike the country of Iran. We did not strike any kind of private targets. We really did not also strike army targets beyond the 3 nuclear tools centers that we believed was very important to achieve our objective of stopping Iran from having a nuclear tool.
So, exactly how Iran reacts, I believe, is inevitably the round remains in their court. Yet if you take a look at what we did, it was extremely accurate, extremely directly customized to our purpose. And if the Iranians make a decision to broaden this, then that’s inevitably their choice. And the head of state of the USA will certainly react in kind.
KARL: So– so you’re elevating the actual opportunity that this is not completion of this problem, however the start of this problem. You understand, united state action to– to Iranian revenge.
There’s something the head of state has actually been truly regular regarding throughout his whole life in national politics, which is the concept of say goodbye to battles. Allow me play you what he stated on political election evening and, certainly, at his commencement.
( BEGIN VIDEO)
DONALD TRUMP, HEAD OF STATE OF THE UNITED STATES: I’m not mosting likely to begin a battle. I’m mosting likely to quit battles. We will certainly determine our success not just by the fights we win, however additionally by the battles that we finish, and probably, most significantly, the battles we never ever enter.
( END VIDEO)
KARL: So– so allow me ask you, what do you claim to those, consisting of a few of the head of state’s greatest advocates that were truly fretted today that the USA is currently associated with yet one more drawn-out battle, problem, whatever you intend to call it, between East?
VANCE: Well, firstly, Jon, I believe the head of state has actually been extremely clear that we are not curious about drawn-out problems between East. Yet there’s a concern around, exactly how do you accomplish tranquility? And our team believe the manner in which you accomplish tranquility is with toughness.
We took an extremely slim and minimal method to damaging the Iranian nuclear program, Jon. That’s what the head of state did. And I believe that, greater than anything, is mosting likely to make sure a calm resolution because area of the globe.
You can not be weak. You can not rest there and permit the Iranians to accomplish a nuclear tool, Jon, and anticipate that’s mosting likely to result in tranquility. It would certainly result in definitely devastating army problem around the Center East. We do not desire that. Our Gulf Arab country allies do not desire that. Israel does not desire that. And it is among minority concerns, honestly, that joins the Arabians to the Israelis is none desire the Iranians to obtain a nuclear tool, due to the fact that they understand that it would certainly result in the reverse of tranquility.
Therefore, I would certainly claim to individuals that are bothered with a drawn-out army problem is, top, the head of state, greater than anyone, is bothered with drawn-out army problems. That is not what we’re obtaining ourselves associated with. What we’re obtaining ourselves associated with is an extremely targeted initiative to get rid of the Iranian nuclear program. That will certainly remain to be the objective of American diplomacy. And it’s that objective that is mosting likely to encourage our activity in the– in the weeks and months ahead.
KARL: Yet– however this was, as we talked about, a complicated and frustrating army activity last evening. And the head of state is swearing something larger if the Iranians react by striking back.
He’s additionally increased the specter of targeting the superior leader himself. As you understand, previously in the week he stated he understood where this– where the ayatollah is concealing which he would certainly be a very easy target.
Has the united state eliminated targeting the– the superior leader in Iran? Has the united state eliminated attempting to accomplish routine adjustment?
VANCE: Well, firstly, we do not intend to accomplish routine adjustment. We intend to accomplish completion of the Iranian nuclear program. Jon. That’s America’s purpose. Which’s what the head of state has actually established us bent on do.
The head of state, in the extremely tweet you pointed out, or the Fact that you pointed out, Jon, stated clearly that he’s not attempting to obtain the Iranian superior leader. He’s attempting to obtain their nuclear program. And, certainly, we took a significant progression keeping that last evening.
And once again, Jon, I believe we need to support and– and– and check some properties right here. Just how do you accomplish long-term tranquility? Just how do you protect against spiraling Center Eastern problem? Is it with frustrating army power targeted to an American purpose, or is it by kind of strolling on your own right into these lasting, drawn-out army problems? I believe by selecting frustrating pressure and frustrating pressure linked to something that is essential to the American individuals, that is completion of the Iranian nuclear program, we can accomplish tranquility far more completely than if we kind of rest on our hands and really hope that in some way, if the Iranians obtain a nuclear tool, they’re mosting likely to be much more calm. That is a dumb method, and the head of state denied it.
KARL: All right, Vice Head of state J.D. Vance, thanks for joining us today.
VANCE: Many Thanks, Jon. Make sure.
