JD Vance Says Iran Must Cut Uranium Enrichment to End US War

FAIRBANKS, UNITED STATES — WEB DESK: US Vice President JD Vance has said Iran must significantly reduce its uranium enrichment capacity if it wants to reach an agreement with Washington and end the seven-month conflict between the two countries.

Vance said any settlement would require concrete action from Tehran on its nuclear programme rather than assurances about reductions that might take place in the future.

The vice president specifically questioned Iran’s production of uranium enriched to 60%, arguing that such a level was difficult to reconcile with Tehran’s insistence that it does not intend to develop a nuclear weapon.

He said Iran would need to take meaningful steps to reduce its enrichment capacity if it wanted to demonstrate its commitment to remaining a non-nuclear weapons state.

Vance stressed that Washington remained open to reaching an agreement with Tehran but would require tangible nuclear concessions before a settlement could be reached.

His comments come as the United States and Iran continue exchanging proposals aimed at ending the conflict and addressing the disruption surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important energy shipping routes.

President Donald Trump has rejected Tehran’s latest proposal and warned that US military operations could intensify if diplomatic efforts fail to produce an agreement.

Vance has played a prominent role in efforts to negotiate an end to the conflict, although he stopped short of describing himself as the person leading the negotiations.

He said the US administration was involved in talks with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi.

However, Vance said Washington remained uncertain about how decisions were ultimately being made within Iran’s political system and how much authority the officials participating in negotiations possessed.

Iran has rejected that characterisation.

Tehran’s Foreign Ministry maintains that US officials understand Iran’s decision-making structure and has instead accused Washington of adopting contradictory positions and sending mixed messages.

The disagreement over uranium enrichment remains one of the central obstacles to reaching a diplomatic settlement.

Iran has consistently maintained that its nuclear programme is intended for peaceful purposes, while Washington has demanded restrictions designed to prevent Tehran from developing the capacity to produce a nuclear weapon.

The conflict has also had significant consequences for global energy markets, particularly because of instability surrounding the Strait of Hormuz.

Vance said Iranian forces retain some ability to strike commercial vessels in the waterway but argued that they have largely been unable to stop energy exports.

With diplomatic exchanges continuing, the scale of Iran’s uranium enrichment programme is emerging as a critical test of whether Washington and Tehran can bridge their differences and reach an agreement to end the conflict.