US Vice President JD Vance told Reuters that Iran must make a significant reduction in its nuclear enrichment capacity to secure an agreement with Washington and end the seven month war.
Vance said the United States would require concrete action rather than promises from Tehran, arguing that Iran’s continued production of highly enriched uranium would undermine any commitment not to develop nuclear weapons.
Iran and the United States have exchanged proposals aimed at ending the conflict and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a major global energy shipping route. President Donald Trump has rejected Iran’s latest proposal and warned that military operations could intensify.
Vance also said Washington remains uncertain about how decisions are made within Iran’s political system. He said US officials have been communicating with President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi but questioned how much authority they have following the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in US Israeli strikes.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei rejected that assessment, saying US officials understand Iran’s decision making structure and that the main problem is conflicting messages from Washington.
Vance said he had spoken with military commanders about battlefield conditions and dismissed concerns about critical ammunition shortages. He said Iranian forces could still threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz but were largely unable to stop energy exports through the waterway.
The war has also become a political issue in the United States, with higher energy prices putting pressure on the Trump administration and Republicans ahead of next month’s midterm elections. Vance said he has not decided whether he will seek the presidency in 2028.
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