Vance says Iran must make ‘meaningful’ cuts to nuclear enrichment

FAIRBANKS: US Vice President JD Vance has said Iran will need to significantly scale back its uranium enrichment capacity if it wants to meet Washington’s demands and pave the way for an end to the seven-month conflict between the two countries. In an exclusive interview with Reuters, Vance also acknowledged that the US remains uncertain about how decisions are being made within Iran’s negotiating structure.

Vance, who has long opposed extensive US involvement in overseas conflicts, has emerged as a key figure in Washington’s diplomatic efforts to resolve the war. He helped broker a tentative ceasefire agreement in June, but the arrangement soon collapsed. The prolonged conflict has disrupted global energy markets and created political challenges for President Donald Trump and fellow Republicans ahead of the November midterm elections.

Speaking on Monday following a campaign visit to Alaska, Vance said Washington was looking for concrete action from Tehran rather than assurances that it would reduce its nuclear activities at a later stage.

“If you don’t want a nuclear weapon, then why do you need 60% 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.

He added that Tehran could demonstrate its intentions by taking tangible steps to curb its enrichment programme.

“I think if they want to show a commitment to not building a nuclear weapon, they would do something meaningful on their enrichment capacity.”

The United States and Iran have exchanged proposals in recent weeks as part of efforts to bring the conflict to an end and restore traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial route for global energy shipments. However, Trump has rejected Iran’s most recent proposal and warned that military action could escalate once the midterm elections are over.

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.

Unclear how Iran makes decision: Vance

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. But it was unclear how much authority they wield within Iran’s power structure, he said, after joint US-Israeli strikes at the start of the war killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

“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.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Sunday that US officials are well aware of who their Iranian counterparts are and how Iran’s decision-making system works.

“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. He dismissed concerns over critical munitions shortages and added that while Iranian troops are periodically able to strike commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz, they are largely unable to prevent energy exports through the waterway.

Vance declined to say if he was leading peace talks, though he is frequently cited as the White House’s top negotiator.

“We’re certainly involved,” he said. “Ultimately, the president of the United States is driving things.”

The war, and its $3 billion monthly price tag, has become a key issue on the campaign trail. Higher energy prices have put Trump and Republicans on the defensive in competitive states that will decide control of Congress.

Vance has sought to temper criticism of Trump’s handling of the conflict, telling voters they should not let that issue keep them from backing Republicans in next month’s elections.

In Alaska, Vance rallied for Republican Senator Dan Sullivan, who is locked in a tight reelection battle with Democratic challenger Mary Peltola. Trump carried Alaska by 13 percentage points in 2024, but rising everyday costs have put the state in play.

Before speaking with Reuters, Vance focused much of his speech on affordability concerns, especially around energy. Alaska’s remote locale makes consumer goods more expensive, and energy production is a key industry.

Rally attendees roared when Sullivan nearly introduced Vance as the president of the US, rather than the vice president. Vance is seen as a leading Republican contender to succeed Trump in the White House.

Vance told Reuters afterward that he had not decided whether to seek the presidency in 2028.

“I’m inherently a procrastinator,” he said. “I really haven’t thought about it much.”