Vance Says US Demands Concrete Iranian Action on Enrichment

Jacquelyn Martin/Pool

JD Vance is interviewed by Reuters reporter Jacob Bogage in Fairbanks, Alaska.

US Vice President JD Vance has said Iran must make a “meaningful” reduction in its nuclear enrichment capacity for Washington to agree to an end to the seven-month war between the two countries.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with Reuters, Vance said the United States was seeking concrete action from Tehran rather than assurances that it would reduce its nuclear activities in the future.

“If you want to show a commitment to not building a nuclear weapon, don't build highly enriched fuel,” Vance said, questioning Iran’s need for uranium enriched to 60%.

Vance said Washington remained open to an agreement with Tehran but insisted that any deal would require tangible Iranian concessions on its nuclear programme.

“We're not going to trade words for actions,” he said.

The comments come as Iran and the United States continue to exchange proposals aimed at ending the conflict and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for global energy shipments. US President Donald Trump has rejected Tehran’s latest proposal and warned that military operations could intensify after the US midterm elections, according to Reuters.

Vance also said Washington remained uncertain about how decisions are being made in Tehran. He said the US was communicating with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, but questioned how much authority they have within Iran’s political structure following the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in joint US-Israeli strikes at the beginning of the war.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei rejected the assessment, saying US officials understand Iran’s decision-making system and that the problem lies instead in what he described as contradictory positions and mixed messages from Washington.

Vance also said Iranian forces remained capable of striking commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, but argued that they had largely failed to prevent energy exports from continuing through the waterway.

He added that the US administration remained involved in efforts to reach a settlement, while stressing that President Trump was ultimately directing the negotiations.

The conflict has also put pressure on global energy markets, with the war costing the United States around $3 billion a month and contributing to higher energy prices, according to Reuters.


PUKMEDIA