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Vance Calls for Iran to Cut Nuclear Enrichment to End War
Confirmed
In Short: US Vice President JD Vance said in an interview with Reuters that Iran must make a 'meaningful' reduction in its nuclear enrichment capacity to satisfy US demands and end the ongoing seven-month war.
Vance emphasized that Iran's enrichment of uranium to 60 percent is unnecessary if the country does not intend to build a nuclear weapon.
He stated, 'If you don’t want a nuclear weapon, then why do you need 60 percent enriched fuel. And if you want to show commitment to not building a nuclear weapon, don’t build highly enriched fuel.'
Vance also noted that any agreement would require Iran to reduce its nuclear enrichment capacity rather than offer assurances of future reductions.
The vice president stressed that the US would not accept promises alone, saying, 'We’re not going to trade words for actions.'
Vance acknowledged that Washington is uncertain about how decisions are made in Tehran, complicating negotiations.
He added, 'One of the things we picked up on is it’s not totally clear how their country makes decisions.'
Vance has been a key figure in the Trump administration's efforts to negotiate an end to the conflict, having brokered a provisional peace agreement in September that quickly fell apart.
In an exclusive interview with Reuters, Vance said he had held personal conversations with field commanders to gauge battlefield conditions.
Vance, who is seen as a potential Republican presidential contender in 2028, said he had not yet decided whether he would seek the White House.
Iranian officials have accused Washington of creating confusion through 'contradictory positions and mixed messaging.'
Vance declined to say if he was leading peace talks, though he is frequently cited as the White House’s top negotiator.
Ultimately, Vance stated, 'I think if they want to show a commitment to not building a nuclear weapon, they would do something meaningful on their enrichment capacity.'
What this adds
Vance's comments add to the ongoing uncertainty in negotiations, highlighting the complexity of decision-making within Iran's power structure.
Background
James David Vance is an American politician, author, and venture capitalist serving as the 50th vice president of the United States. A member of the Republican Party, he represented the state of Ohio in the United States Senate from 2023 to 2025.
What's confirmed
- FAIRBANKS, Alaska: US Vice President JD Vance said in an exclusive interview with Reuters that Iran must make a “meaningful” reduction in its nuclear enrichment capacity to satisfy US demands and end the countries’ seven-month war, even as Washington was unsure how Tehran makes decisions in negotiations.
- Speaking on Monday after a campaign trip in Alaska, Vance said any agreement would require Iran to reduce its nuclear enrichment capacity, rather than offer assurances of future nuclear drawdowns.
- “If you don’t want a nuclear weapon, then why do you need 60 percent enriched fuel. And if you want to show commitment to not building a nuclear weapon, don’t build highly enriched fuel. That’s a very basic threshold issue,” Vance said.
- Vance said the US remained open to an agreement but would require concrete Iranian nuclear concessions.
- “We’re not going to trade words for actions,” Vance said.
- Complicating matters, Vance said Washington is uncertain who makes decisions in Tehran.
- Vance said the US was in talks with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi.
- “One of the things we picked up on is it’s not totally clear how their country makes decisions,” Vance said.
- Separately, Trump said on Tuesday his “biggest problem” is no one knows who is running Iran.
- “The problem is actually the opposite: it lies in the contradictory positions and mixed messaging from US officials,” Esmaeil Baghaei told a weekly press conference.
- Vance told Reuters he has held personal conversations with field commanders to gauge battlefield conditions.
- Vance told Reuters afterward that he had not decided whether to seek the presidency in 2028.
What's still developing
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