In a podcast, US Vice President JD Vance said the delay in releasing the details of its MoU with Iran was partly due to press freedom standards in Pakistan.
WHAT VANCE SAID ON PAKISTAN PRESS FREEDOM?
PAKISTAN LEFT RED-FACEDVance's remark has brought into the spotlight the steep decline in free speech and press freedom in Pakistan.
The recent 27th Constitutional Amendment, passed in November 2025, further impedes press freedom by stripping the Supreme Court of its authority to independently review fundamental rights.
As part of the 14-point MoU, Iran has agreed to dilute its enriched uranium in exchange for broad economic relief.
There seems to be no end to embarrassment for Pakistan regarding the US-Iran peace deal, which it helped broker along with Qatar. In a podcast, US Vice President JD Vance said the delay in releasing the details of its MoU with Iran was partly due to press freedom standards in Pakistan. While US President Donald Trump announced the interim peace deal on June 15, the official text of the MoU was released two days later.
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The US Vice President, speaking in the podcast 'Interesting Times with Ross Douthat', explained that Washington took time to release the details due to concerns over transparency.
WHAT VANCE SAID ON PAKISTAN PRESS FREEDOM?
"We actually wanted to get it out. I think part of the misalignment here is that in the Pakistani and Qatari systems, they don't quite have the First Amendment and freedom of the press," Vance said.
The First Amendment of the US Constitution prohibits the government from making laws that infringe on free speech, freedom of the press and religion. Such constitutional safeguards are not there in Pakistan.
"And so, there isn't this expectation (in Pakistan) that the text is going to be out there for the American people to actually interrogate and look at and analyse and understand for themselves. But it will be out," Vance further said.
The full text of the agreement between the US and Iran to end the war was eventually released on Wednesday following an outcry and criticism from Democrats.
Critics had also speculated that the US was withholding the MoU details because the agreement may have involved significant concessions to Iran to bring an end to the conflict, which triggered a global oil crisis due to Tehran's chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz.
PAKISTAN LEFT RED-FACED
Vance's remark has brought into the spotlight the steep decline in free speech and press freedom in Pakistan. Pakistan ranks 153 out of 180 countries in the World Press Freedom Index.
In fact, over the decades, Pakistan has long been recognised as one of the most challenging countries for journalists. The recent 27th Constitutional Amendment, passed in November 2025, further impedes press freedom by stripping the Supreme Court of its authority to independently review fundamental rights.
More embarrassment was in store for Pakistan, which had presented the US-Iran deal as a major diplomatic achievement. Earlier this week, while announcing the agreement, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said an official signing ceremony would be held in Switzerland on June 19.
However, Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian signed the MoU digitally on Thursday, leaving an egg on Pakistan's face. Before it, the Iranian Foreign Ministry also clarified that no signing ceremony would be held in Switzerland.
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Sharif quietly removed the Switzerland signing paragraph from his post. He also cancelled his visit to Switzerland.
ON IRAN'S URANIUM, RECONSTRUCTION FUND
In the podcast, the US Vice President also touched upon key sticking points of the deal. As part of the 14-point MoU, Iran has agreed to dilute its enriched uranium in exchange for broad economic relief.
Vance argued that it was a major win for the Trump administration. "The (Barack) Obama-Iran deal allowed them to generate a stockpile of enriched uranium. Our deal ensures that the stockpile is destroyed and eliminated. That's a big difference," he said.
Vance was referring to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) negotiated by Obama with Iran in 2015. Trump withdrew from the JCPOA in 2018.
A major political flashpoint has been the US's commitment to create a $300 billion reconstruction plan for Iran. However, Vance clarified that "not a cent" of American money would go to Iran.
"Not a cent of American money goes to Iran. There could be economic benefits for Iran paid for by investment from other countries, but only if they fundamentally transform their country. We have transformed their country. Isn't that good for America?" he said.
- Ends
Published By: Abhishek De Published On: Jun 20, 2026 13:36 IST
