Vance Says Iran Must Make 'Meaningful' Nuclear Concessions to End War
In a Reuters interview, JD Vance demanded tangible cuts to Iran’s enrichment capacity, questioned Tehran’s negotiating authority and defended the war effort as higher energy costs pressure Republicans ahead of November’s midterms.
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U.S. Vice President JD Vance has made tangible cuts to Iran’s nuclear enrichment capacity a condition for ending the seven-month war.
In an interview with Reuters after campaigning in Alaska on Monday, Vance said Tehran needed to demonstrate its intentions through changes to its nuclear capabilities.
“I think if they want to show a commitment to not building a nuclear weapon, they would do something meaningful on their enrichment capacity.”
Nuclear Concessions First
Vance questioned Iran’s need for fuel enriched to 60% if it had no intention of developing a nuclear weapon.
Washington remained willing to reach a settlement, he said, but required concrete concessions.
“We're not going to trade words for actions,” he said.
The two governments have exchanged proposals to halt the fighting and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
President Donald Trump rejected Iran’s most recent proposal and has threatened stronger military action after November’s midterm elections.
Vance, who has long questioned American involvement in overseas conflicts, helped negotiate a temporary peace arrangement in June.
It collapsed soon afterward.
Questions Over Tehran’s Authority
Vance said uncertainty about Iran’s internal chain of authority was complicating negotiations.
Washington has been communicating with President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi.
However, Vance said the extent of their decision-making power remained unclear following the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in joint U.S.-Israeli strikes when the war began.
“One of the things we picked up on is it's not totally clear how their country makes decisions,” he said.
Iran disputes that account.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said Sunday that American officials understood both their counterparts and Tehran’s decision-making arrangements.
He attributed the difficulties to inconsistent positions and messages from Washington.
Vance would not confirm whether he was directing the negotiations, describing Trump as ultimately responsible for the process.
Energy Costs Shape Election Campaign
The conflict costs $3 billion a month and has disrupted energy markets.
Rising prices have increased electoral pressure on Trump and Republican candidates in states that could determine control of Congress.
In Alaska, Vance campaigned for Republican Senator Dan Sullivan, who faces a close contest against Democrat Mary Peltola.
His remarks emphasized household costs and energy, a major industry in the state.
Vance has urged voters dissatisfied with Trump’s handling of the war to continue supporting Republican candidates.
He also rejected concerns about serious ammunition shortages, citing conversations with commanders.
Although Iranian forces could sometimes hit commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, he said they had limited ability to stop energy shipments through it.
Ahmet Koçak
Ahmet Koçak is a news editor at Clash Report based in Istanbul. He previously served as Deputy Managing Editor at Türkiye Today, helping launch the digital news platform in 2023, and spent three years as Senior Editor at Daily Sabah. His work focuses on breaking news, geopolitics, international affairs, and digital journalism.
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