‘Pakistan Doesn’t Have Press Freedom’: JD Vance On Why Iran Deal Details Were Kept Under Wraps

US Vice President JD Vance has openly slammed Pakistan, stating that the delay in releasing the full text of the recent interim US-Iran peace deal was partly due to the lack of press freedom in mediating nations like Pakistan and Qatar. His remarks, made on a podcast around June 20, 2026, have sparked a fresh diplomatic kerfuffle, casting a spotlight on the controversial 'Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding' and the state of media freedoms in key regional players. This interim 'Iran Deal' is a fragile framework brokered by Pakistan and Qatar to halt the protracted '2026 Iran War', which commenced in February, and to reopen the crucial Strait of Hormuz. While it's not a comprehensive nuclear agreement, it aims to cease military operations across all fronts, including in Lebanon, and sets a 60-day window for further intricate negotiations on Iran's nuclear program and the lifting of US sanctions. Vance's criticism echoes broader concerns, as Pakistan's World Press Freedom Index ranking in 2026 sits at a dismal 153rd out of 180 countries, categorizing its media environment as 'very serious' amidst 'relentless waves of restrictions'. The path ahead for this deal is already fraught with significant hurdles, evident in the recent last-minute postponement of a formal signing ceremony in Switzerland, with both US and Iranian delegations delaying their trips. Iran's temporary closure of the Strait of Hormuz in retaliation for Israeli strikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon further underscores the volatility of the region and the precariousness of this interim peace. Observers are now keenly watching whether the 60-day negotiation period can navigate these deep-seated distrusts and geopolitical complexities, or if this diplomatic tightrope walk will ultimately collapse.