U.S. Vice President JD Vance told Reuters that Washington wants Tehran to make a meaningful reduction in its uranium-enrichment capacity. He also said the United States is unsure who makes final decisions in Iran’s political system.
In an interview with Reuters, U.S. Vice President JD Vance said any agreement with Iran must include a substantial reduction in its ability to enrich uranium. He said Washington wants concrete steps rather than promises about future limits.
Vance pointed to Iran’s use of uranium enriched to 60% as a threshold issue for the United States. He said the administration remained open to a deal but would not “trade words for actions.” Those demands and assessments represent the U.S. position.
The vice president also said Washington was not certain who makes final decisions in Tehran. He named Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi as U.S. interlocutors, but questioned how much authority they held. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei, Reuters reported, replied that U.S. officials know how Iran’s decision-making system works and said the problem lay in contradictory U.S. statements.
The negotiations aim to end a seven-month conflict and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a major route for global energy shipments. Vance said he helped broker a provisional peace agreement in September, but it quickly fell apart. U.S. President Donald Trump rejected Tehran’s latest proposal and warned that military operations could intensify after November’s midterm elections.
Vance dismissed concerns about critical munitions shortages and said Iran can periodically strike commercial vessels but cannot fully stop energy exports through the strait. Reuters reported that the war and higher energy prices had become political liabilities for Republicans ahead of the midterm elections.