Vice President JD Vance stated in an interview with Reuters that Iran must make a "meaningful" reduction in its nuclear enrichment capacity to meet US demands and end the ongoing conflict, which has lasted for seven months. Vance, who has been critical of US involvement in foreign wars, has played a significant role in negotiating a settlement and previously brokered a provisional peace agreement in June that subsequently fell apart.
The conflict has impacted global energy markets and has become a political issue for President Donald Trump and the Republican Party ahead of the midterm elections in November. Speaking after a campaign trip in Alaska, Vance emphasized that any agreement would necessitate Iran reducing its nuclear enrichment capacity rather than merely providing assurances of future reductions.
"If you don’t want a nuclear weapon, then why do you need 60% enriched fuel?" Vance remarked. "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."
Iran and the US have exchanged proposals recently aimed at concluding the war and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial global shipping route for energy. Trump has rejected Iran’s latest offer and warned that military actions could escalate following the midterms.
Vance stated that the US remains open to an agreement but requires concrete concessions from Iran regarding its nuclear program. "We’re not going to trade words for actions," he noted.
He also mentioned that the US is uncertain about the decision-making process within Tehran, indicating that while the US is in talks with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, their authority within Iran’s power structure is unclear, especially after the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei due to joint US-Israeli strikes at the war's onset.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Esmaeil Baghaei, countered that US officials are aware of Iran’s decision-making system and suggested that the issue lies with the mixed messages from US officials.
Vance has engaged in discussions with field commanders to understand battlefield conditions and dismissed concerns regarding munitions shortages. He stated that while Iranian forces can occasionally target commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, they are generally unable to disrupt energy exports.
Although Vance did not confirm if he is leading peace talks, he is frequently referenced as a key negotiator for the White House. "We’re certainly involved," he said, adding that the President of the United States is ultimately directing the efforts.
The war, which costs approximately $3 billion monthly, has emerged as a significant topic in the campaign. Rising energy prices have placed Trump and Republicans in a challenging position in key states that will influence control of Congress.
Vance has attempted to mitigate criticism of Trump’s management of the conflict, urging voters not to let it deter them from supporting Republicans in the upcoming elections. During a rally in Alaska for Republican Senator Dan Sullivan, who faces a competitive reelection challenge, Vance highlighted affordability issues, particularly concerning energy.
Attendees responded enthusiastically when Sullivan nearly introduced Vance as the president. Vance is viewed as a potential Republican candidate for the presidency in 2028, though he stated he has not yet made a decision regarding his candidacy. "I’m inherently a procrastinator," he remarked. "I really haven’t thought about it much."