Vance says Trump still prefers diplomatic solution with Iran

Feb 25 (Reuters) – U.S. Vice President JD Vance said on Wednesday that President Donald Trump still preferred a diplomatic solution with Iran and that he hoped Iranians took that seriously in their negotiations on Thursday.

* Vance told Fox News’ “America’s Newsroom” program thatTrump has been clear Iran can’t have a nuclear weapon. * The U.S. vice president said Trump wants to achieve thatgoal diplomatically, but has other tools at his disposal. * The U.S. and Iranian delegations will hold a third roundof talks over Tehran’s nuclear program in Geneva on Thursday. * Vance said he hoped the Iranians took Trump’s preferenceseriously in negotiations on Thursday. * Vance declined to say whether the U.S. would want to seeIranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei step down. * “We’re sitting down having another round of diplomatictalks with the Iranians trying to reach a reasonablesettlement,” Vance said.

(Reporting by Bhargav Acharya in Toronto;)