VP debate: Walz bashes Trump for Iran nuclear deal, Vance invokes Reagan foreign policy

Kinsey Crowley, USA TODAY
·2 min read
Republican JD Vance prior to the CBS News vice presidential debate moderated by CBS Evening News anchor and managing editor Norah O'Donnell and Face the Nation moderator and chief foreign affairs correspondent Margaret Brennan.

The CBS News Vice Presidential Debate was off to a big start with questions over foreign policy after Iran fired missiles at Israel earlier Tuesday.

"Iran is weakened, but the U.S. still considers it the largest state sponsor of terrorism in the world, and it has drastically reduced the time it would take to develop a nuclear weapon," CBS moderator Margaret Brennan said, going to Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Walz first.

Walz emphasized the need for steady leadership, arguing Kamala Harris fit the bill. In Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance's rebuttal, he argued Donald Trump could bring "peace through strength."

Here is what else to know about their answers:

Debate live coverage: JD Vance, Tim Walz battle over abortion rights, economy

Walz references Trump Iran nuclear deal

"Iran is closer to a nuclear weapon than they were before, because of Donald Trump's fickle leadership," Walz said.

Trump has said Iran has been targeting him as supposed payback over his former administration's hardline tactics, including pulling out of the Iranian nuclear deal. In 2018, Trump decided to re-impose sanctions on Tehran, saying the deal, negotiated under former President Barack Obama, was "horrible, one-sided." The move angered allies.

Vance invoked one of Reagan's favorite sayings...

Vance tried to shift the foreign policy blame back on Harris as she served in the White House over the past four years.

But Vance also said twice that Trump would bring "peace through strength."

"Donald Trump recognized that for people to fear the United States, you needed peace through strength," he said. "They needed to recognize that if they got out of line, the United States, global leadership would put stability and peace back in the world."

Former Republican President Ronald Reagan touted this foreign policy doctrine during his presidency as he increased defense spending by 35% and tried to improve relations with the Soviet Union.

Watch the VP debate:

Tune into the CBS News Vice Presidential Debate on Tuesday, Oct. 1, at 9 p.m. ET on CBS or simulcast on www.usatoday.com.

Contributing: Oren Dorell, Josh Meyer

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Walz bashes Trump for Iran nuclear deal, Vance invokes Reagan

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