Vance says Iran must cut nuclear enrichment to end war

US Vice President JD Vance said Iran must reduce its nuclear enrichment capacity by a "meaningful" amount to end the ongoing war, despite Washington's uncertainty about how Iran makes decisions in negotiations. Vance, a vocal critic of US involvement in foreign wars, played a key role in negotiating a provisional peace agreement in September that quickly fell apart.

The conflict has disrupted global energy markets and become a political liability for President Donald Trump and Republicans ahead of the November midterm elections.

Vance emphasized that any agreement would require Iran to cut its nuclear enrichment to 60% rather than offering assurances of future nuclear drawdowns. He stated that if Iran wishes to demonstrate its commitment to not building a nuclear weapon, it must take "meaningful" action on its enrichment capacity. The US remains open to an agreement but insists on concrete Iranian nuclear concessions.

The complexity of Iran's decision-making process added another layer of uncertainty, with Vance acknowledging that Washington is unsure who holds the real authority in Tehran. The US has been in talks with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, but it remains unclear how much influence they wield within Iran's power structure. Vance's comments come as the war continues to impact global energy prices and poses a challenge to Republican candidates during the midterm elections.