Vance: Iran Must Make Meaningful Nuclear Concessions to End War

US Vice President JD Vance has said Iran must make a “meaningful” reduction in its nuclear enrichment capacity as part of any agreement to end the seven-month war between Washington and Tehran.

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Vance made the remarks in an exclusive interview with Reuters on Monday after a campaign trip to Alaska, saying the United States would not accept promises from Tehran without concrete action on its nuclear programme.

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

He added that Washington remained open to an agreement but would not exchange Iranian assurances for concessions from the United States. “We’re not going to trade words for actions,” Vance said.

The two countries have exchanged proposals in recent weeks aimed at ending the conflict and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a major global energy shipping route. US President Donald Trump has rejected Tehran’s latest offer and warned that military operations could intensify after the November midterm elections.

US Unsure Who Makes Decisions in Tehran

Vance also said the United States was uncertain about how decisions are made within Iran’s political structure following US-Israeli strikes that, according to the report, killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei at the beginning of the war.

He said Washington was communicating with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi but questioned how much authority they exercise within Iran’s wider power structure.

“One of the things we picked up on is it’s not totally clear how their country makes decisions,” Vance said.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei disputed that assessment, saying US officials understand who their Iranian counterparts are and how Iran’s decision-making system operates.

Vance said the Trump administration remained involved in efforts to reach a settlement, although he declined to formally describe himself as the lead negotiator.

“Ultimately, the president of the United States is driving things,” he said.

The conflict has also become a political challenge for the Trump administration ahead of next month’s midterm elections, with higher energy prices raising concerns over the cost of living. Vance, who campaigned in Alaska for Republican Senator Dan Sullivan, said he had not decided whether to seek the presidency in 2028.

“I really haven’t thought about it much,” he said.