Vance: Iran Must Cut Nuclear Enrichment to End War

Vice President JD Vance said that Iran must make a “meaningful” reduction in its nuclear enrichment capacity to satisfy U.S. demands and end the countries’ seven-month war, even as Washington remains unsure about how Tehran makes decisions in negotiations. Vance, a longtime skeptic of U.S. involvement in foreign wars, has taken a leading role in negotiating a settlement to the conflict, which has jolted global energy markets and become a political liability for President Donald Trump and fellow Republicans ahead of November midterm elections.

Speaking on Monday, Vance stated that 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% 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. "I think if they want to show a commitment to not building a nuclear weapon, they would do something meaningful on their enrichment capacity."

Iran and the U.S. have exchanged proposals in recent weeks aimed at ending the war and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global energy shipping route. Trump rejected Tehran’s latest offer and has warned that military operations could intensify after the midterms. Vance affirmed that the U.S. remains open to an agreement but requires concrete Iranian nuclear concessions, stating, "We’re not going to trade words for actions."

Complicating matters, Vance noted that Washington is uncertain who makes decisions in Tehran. He indicated that the U.S. was in talks with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, but it remained unclear how much authority they wield within Iran’s power structure, particularly after joint U.S.-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. President Trump separately stated that his “biggest problem” is that no one knows who is running Iran. However, Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson asserted on Sunday that U.S. officials are well aware of their Iranian counterparts and Iran’s decision-making system.

Vance told Reuters that he has held personal conversations with field commanders to assess 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 specify 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, with an estimated $3 billion monthly cost, has become a key issue on the campaign trail. Increased energy prices have placed Trump and Republicans on the defensive in competitive states that will determine control of Congress. Vance has sought to temper criticism of Trump’s handling of the conflict, urging voters not to let that issue deter them from supporting Republicans in the upcoming elections.

In Alaska, Vance campaigned for Republican Senator Dan Sullivan, who faces a tight reelection battle. Vance also focused his speech on affordability concerns, particularly regarding energy costs, a key industry in Alaska. Vance, seen as a potential Republican contender for the presidency in 2028, stated he has not yet decided whether to seek the office, describing himself as a procrastinator.