Senior Russian official Dmitry Medvedev’s remarks about potentially arming Iran with nuclear weapons drew a strong response from US Vice President JD Vance, who called the comments “bizarre” and questioned their legitimacy. The exchange unfolded Sunday morning during Vance’s interview with ABC News anchor Jonathan Karl, just hours after the US carried out strikes on three Iranian nuclear sites.
Karl highlighted Medvedev’s provocative claim: “A number of countries are ready to directly supply Iran with their own nuclear warheads.” Medvedev, a former president and prime minister of Russia, now serves as deputy chairman of the Russian Security Council. His statement suggested that Iran’s nuclear ambitions were not only active but might soon be supported by foreign powers—including Russia.
Responding to the threat, Vance dismissed Medvedev’s words as unrepresentative of official Kremlin policy. “It’s a bizarre response,” he said, adding, “I don’t know that that guy speaks for President [Vladimir] Putin or the Russian government.” Vance noted that US-Russian dialogue over recent months—despite tensions—has revealed a consistent message from Moscow: a shared interest in preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
“There’s a lot that divides us,” Vance told Karl, “but this is one of the few areas where the United States, Russia, and China have traditionally agreed. Nobody wants a nuclear arms race in the Middle East.”
Vance emphasized the importance of Saturday night’s US military strike, calling it a decisive move to limit nuclear proliferation in the region. While acknowledging the complexities of global diplomacy, he stood firm in the belief that US policy would remain focused on ensuring Iran never becomes a nuclear-armed state.
“I’ll let President Putin clarify Russia’s official position,” Vance said, “but I’m confident that for Russia, for China, and of course for the United States, the shared priority is preventing Iran from developing a nuclear weapon.”
The White House and State Department have not yet issued direct statements addressing Medvedev’s warning. However, the Vice President’s comments reflect growing concern within the administration about the resurgence of nuclear brinkmanship—particularly in a region already marred by proxy wars and political instability.
As the international community closely watches the fallout from the US strikes, Vance’s remarks highlight Washington’s broader diplomatic challenge: maintaining pressure on Iran’s nuclear ambitions while deterring adversaries like Russia from destabilizing the global order through threats of proliferation.
