Vice President JD Vance said Iran must take concrete steps to reduce its uranium-enrichment capacity, arguing that assurances alone will not satisfy the U.S. as Washington seeks an end to the seven-month war.
Vance Demands Concrete Nuclear Concessions
Vance told Reuters that any agreement with Iran would require a “meaningful” reduction in its nuclear enrichment capacity, rather than promises that Tehran would scale back its program at a later date.
“If you don’t want a nuclear weapon, then why do you need 60% enriched fuel?” Vance said, questioning why Iran would maintain such enrichment capabilities if its nuclear program is intended for peaceful purposes.
He added that Iran could demonstrate its commitment by taking tangible steps to limit highly enriched uranium production.
“I think if they want to show a commitment to not building a nuclear weapon, they would do something meaningful on their enrichment capacity,” Vance said.
US Rejects Words Without Action
The comments come as the U.S. and Iran have exchanged proposals to end the conflict and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial global energy shipping route.
President Donald Trump has rejected Tehran’s latest offer and warned that U.S. military operations could intensify after the November midterm elections. Vance said Washington remains open to a deal but expects verifiable Iranian concessions.
“We’re not going to trade words for actions,” Vance said.
Iran Sets Conditions For Hormuz Reopening
Meanwhile, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said Sunday that Tehran would not fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz unless Washington meets seven conditions.
A document circulating among officials proposes a seven-day confidence-building period to return the U.S. and Iran to a broader version of the June memorandum of understanding, Reuters reported.
The plan includes specific steps concerning Iran’s nuclear program, according to the publication, citing an official familiar with the negotiations.
Qatar has been mediating between the U.S. and Iran as both sides work to resolve the dispute and restore commercial shipping through the strategic waterway, which handled roughly one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas flows before the conflict.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said Tehran remains committed to diplomacy but is prepared to respond if Washington resumes military operations.
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
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