Vance Says Iran Must Meaningfully Reduce Uranium Enrichment to End War

US Vice President JD Vance has said Iran must make a “meaningful” reduction in its uranium-enrichment capacity to meet Washington’s demands and bring an end to the seven-month-long war between the two countries.

In an interview with Reuters during a campaign trip to Alaska on Monday, Vance said Tehran could not simply promise to reduce its nuclear activities in the future. Any agreement, he said, would require concrete steps to reduce Iran’s enrichment capabilities.

“If you don't want a nuclear weapon, then why do you need 60% enriched fuel?” Vance said, arguing that Iran should not produce highly enriched uranium if it wants to demonstrate that it is not seeking nuclear weapons.

“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 said.

The United States and Iran have exchanged proposals in recent weeks aimed at ending the conflict and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial route for global energy shipments. President Donald Trump has rejected Tehran’s latest proposal and warned that military operations could intensify after the November midterm elections.

Vance said Washington remains interested in reaching an agreement but would require specific concessions from Iran over its nuclear program.

“We're not going to trade words for actions,” he said, adding that the United States wants “actions for actions” rather than relying on promises alone.

Vance also said Washington remains uncertain about how decisions are being made in Tehran. He said the United States is communicating with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, but questioned how much authority they have within Iran’s current power structure following the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in US-Israeli strikes at the beginning of the war.

“We're certainly involved,” Vance said when asked whether he was leading the peace negotiations. “Ultimately, the president of the United States is driving things.”

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei has rejected Washington’s assessment, saying US officials know who their Iranian counterparts are and how Iran’s decision-making process works. He argued that the problem lies instead in what he described as contradictory positions and mixed messages from US officials.

The conflict has disrupted global energy markets and become an increasingly important issue ahead of the November 3 US midterm elections. The war is costing the United States about $3 billion a month, while higher energy prices are putting additional pressure on the Trump administration and Republican candidates in competitive states.

Vance said he has spoken directly with military commanders to assess battlefield conditions and dismissed concerns about critical ammunition shortages. He also said Iran has been able to strike some commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz but has largely failed to halt energy shipments through the waterway.

Vance made the comments while campaigning in Alaska for Republican Senator Dan Sullivan, who is facing Democratic challenger Mary Peltola in a closely watched Senate race. He also told Reuters that he has not decided whether he will seek the presidency in 2028.

“I really haven't thought about it much,” Vance said.