JD Vance Says Iran Must Make ‘Meaningful’ Nuclear Concessions To End War

US Vice President JD Vance said Iran must make a “meaningful” reduction in its nuclear enrichment capacity to meet Washington’s demands and pave the way for an end to the seven-month conflict between the two countries.

In an exclusive interview with Reuters, Vance said the United States would not accept assurances about future reductions and instead wanted concrete action from Tehran on uranium enrichment.

Vance, who has long expressed skepticism about US involvement in overseas wars, has played a central role in efforts to negotiate an end to the conflict. He helped broker a provisional peace agreement in September, but the arrangement quickly collapsed.

The war has disrupted global energy markets and created political challenges for President Donald Trump and Republicans ahead of the November midterm elections.

Speaking Monday after a campaign visit to Alaska, Vance said any potential agreement would require Iran to reduce its enrichment capabilities.

“If you don’t want a nuclear weapon, then why do you need 60 percent enriched fuel?” Vance said.

He added that Iran would need to take “something meaningful” on its enrichment capacity to demonstrate a commitment to not developing a nuclear weapon.

US, Iran Exchange Proposals Over War And Strait Of Hormuz

The United States and Iran have exchanged proposals in recent weeks aimed at ending the conflict and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global energy shipments.

President Trump has rejected Tehran’s latest proposal and warned that military operations could intensify after the US midterm elections.

Vance said Washington remained open to reaching an agreement but insisted that Tehran would have to make concrete nuclear concessions.

“We’re not going to trade words for actions,” he said.

Vance Says Iran’s Decision-Making Process Is Unclear

Vance also said Washington remains uncertain about who ultimately makes key decisions within Iran’s political and military leadership.

He said the United States has been communicating with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, but questioned how much authority they exercise within Iran’s broader power structure.

The uncertainty, Vance said, has increased following US-Israeli strikes at the beginning of the war that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

“One of the things we picked up on is it’s not totally clear how their country makes decisions,” Vance said.

Trump separately said Tuesday that his “biggest problem” was that no one knew who was running Iran.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei rejected that characterization, saying US officials understand who their Iranian counterparts are and how Iran’s decision-making system operates.

According to Baghaei, the problem instead lies in what he described as “contradictory positions and mixed messaging” from US officials.

Vance Says Iran Has Limited Ability To Disrupt Hormuz

Vance said he had spoken directly with field commanders to assess conditions on the battlefield.

He dismissed concerns about critical US munitions shortages and said Iranian forces could periodically target commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz but had limited ability to prevent energy exports through the waterway.

The conflict is estimated to cost the United States around $3 billion a month and has emerged as a significant issue during the election campaign.

Higher energy prices have also increased pressure on the Trump administration and Republicans in competitive states where control of Congress is being contested.

Vance Campaigns In Alaska Amid 2028 Speculation

Vance has defended Trump’s handling of the conflict while urging voters not to allow the issue to determine their support for Republican candidates in the upcoming elections.

During his Alaska visit, Vance campaigned for Republican Senator Dan Sullivan, who is facing Democratic challenger Mary Peltola.

Trump won Alaska by 13 percentage points in the 2024 presidential election, but concerns over the rising cost of living have made affordability a central campaign issue.

Vance also focused his rally speech on household costs, particularly energy prices. Alaska’s remote geography contributes to higher consumer costs, while energy production remains a major part of the state’s economy.

At the rally, attendees cheered after Sullivan briefly appeared to introduce Vance as president rather than vice president.

Vance is widely viewed as one of the prominent Republican figures being discussed as a potential successor to Trump, but he told Reuters that he has not decided whether he will seek the presidency in 2028.

“I’m inherently a procrastinator,” Vance said. “I really haven’t thought about it much.”