U.S. Vice President Vance Urges Iran to Reduce Nuclear Enrichment to End the Conflict

FAIRBANKS, Alaska — In an exclusive interview with Reuters, U.S. Vice President JD Vance stated that Iran must substantially reduce its nuclear enrichment capabilities to meet American demands and bring an end to the seven‑month‑old war between the two nations, even as Washington remains uncertain about Tehran’s internal decision‑making processes.

Vance, a longtime critic of U.S. involvement in overseas conflicts, has emerged as a principal negotiator for a settlement. He brokered a provisional peace accord in September, but the deal collapsed swiftly. The ongoing war has unsettled global energy markets and created a political headache for President Donald Trump and Republicans heading into the November midterm elections.

Speaking Monday after a campaign stop in Alaska, Vance emphasized that any agreement would hinge on Iran actually cutting its nuclear enrichment capacity, not merely promising future reductions.

“If you don’t want a nuclear weapon, why maintain 60 % enriched fuel? If you are committed to not building one, stop producing highly enriched material—that’s a basic threshold issue,” Vance remarked. He added, “I think a genuine commitment to forgo nuclear weapons would be demonstrated by taking meaningful steps to reduce enrichment capacity.”

Over recent weeks, Iran and the United States have traded proposals to end the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a critical conduit for global energy shipments. President Trump has rebuffed Tehran’s most recent overture and warned that military action could escalate after the midterm elections.

Vance indicated that the U.S. remains open to a diplomatic resolution but will only accept concrete nuclear concessions from Iran. “We’re not going to trade words for actions,” he stressed.

Unclear How Iran Makes Decisions, Says Vance

Vance highlighted that Washington’s uncertainty about Iran’s decision‑making process remains a complicating factor.

The U.S. is engaged in discussions with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi. However, Vance noted, it remains unclear how much authority they hold within Iran’s political hierarchy, especially after joint U.S.–Israeli strikes at the war’s outset eliminated Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

“One of the things we’ve learned is that it’s not totally clear how their country makes decisions,” Vance observed. Separately, Trump said on Tuesday his “biggest problem” is that no one knows who is running Iran.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Esmaeil Baghaei, said on Sunday that U.S. officials are fully aware of their Iranian counterparts and the country’s decision‑making system. He added, “The problem is actually the opposite: it lies in the contradictory positions and mixed messaging from U.S. officials,” during a weekly press conference.

Vance said he has spoken directly with field commanders to assess battlefield conditions. He downplayed concerns about munitions shortages, noting that while Iranian forces can occasionally target commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, they are largely unable to halt the flow of energy exports through the waterway.

The war, with an estimated cost of $3 billion per month, has become a central campaign issue. Elevated energy prices have placed President Trump and Republicans on the defensive in swing states that will shape the balance of Congress.

Vance has endeavored to shield Trump from criticism over the conflict, urging voters not to let the war deter them from supporting Republicans in the upcoming election next month.

In Alaska, Vance campaigned for Republican Senator Dan Sullivan, who faces a tight reelection contest against Democrat Mary Peltola. Although Trump won Alaska by 13 points in 2024, rising living costs have made the state competitive.

Prior to his Reuters interview, Vance centered his remarks on affordability, with a particular emphasis on energy costs. Alaska’s isolation drives up the price of goods, making energy production a vital sector for the state.

At the rally, attendees erupted when Senator Sullivan mistakenly introduced Vance as the President of the United States rather than Vice President. Vance is regarded as a top Republican prospect for the 2028 presidential race.

Following the interview, Vance told Reuters he has not yet decided whether to run for president in 2028. “I’m inherently a procrastinator,” he said, “I really haven’t thought about it much.”

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