Vance says Iran must cut enrichment to end war

Speaking on Monday after a campaign trip in Alaska, Vance said ​any agreement would require Iran to reduce its nuclear enrichment capacity, rather than offer assurances of future nuclear drawdowns. "If you don't want a nuclear weapon, then why ​do you need 60% enriched fuel?

And if you want to show commitment to not building a nuclear weapon, don't build highly enriched ⁠fuel. That's a very basic threshold issue," Vance said. "I think if they want to show a commitment to not building a nuclear weapon, they would do something meaningful on their ​enrichment capacity.

"Iran and the US have exchanged proposals in recent weeks aimed at ending the war and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global energy shipping route. Trump rejected Tehran's ​latest offer and has warned that military operations could intensify after the midterms.

Vance said the US remained open to an agreement but would require concrete Iranian nuclear concessions. "We're not going to trade words for actions," Vance said. UNCLEAR HOW IRAN MAKES DECISIONS: VANCEComplicating matters, Vance said Washington is uncertain who makes decisions in Tehran.

Vance said the US was in talks with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi. But ​it was unclear how much authority they wield within Iran's power structure, he said, after joint US-Israeli strikes at the start of the war 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. Separately, Trump said on Tuesday his "biggest problem" is no one knows who is running Iran.

Iran's ‌Foreign Ministry ⁠spokesperson said on Sunday that US officials are well aware of who their Iranian counterparts are and how Iran's decision-making system works. "The problem is actually the opposite: it lies in the contradictory positions and mixed messaging from US officials," Esmaeil Baghaei.

Vance personal conversations with field commanders to gauge battlefield conditions. He dismissed concerns over critical munitions shortages and added that while Iranian troops are periodically able to strike commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz, they are largely unable to prevent energy exports through ​the waterway.

Vance declined to say if he ​was leading peace talks, though he is ⁠frequently cited as the White House's top negotiator. "We're certainly involved," he said. "Ultimately, the president of the United States is driving things.

"The war — and its $3 billion monthly price tag — has become a key issue on the campaign trail. Higher energy prices have put Trump and Republicans on the ​defensive in competitive states that will decide control of Congress.

Vance has sought to temper criticism of Trump’s handling of the conflict, telling ​voters they should not ⁠let that issue keep them from backing Republicans in next month's elections. In Alaska, Vance rallied for Republican Senator Dan Sullivan, who is locked in a tight reelection battle with Democratic challenger Mary Peltola.

Trump carried Alaska by 13 percentage points in 2024, but rising everyday costs have put the state in play. Before speaking with Reuters, Vance focused much of his speech on affordability concerns, especially around ⁠energy.

Alaska's remote ​locale makes consumer goods more expensive, and energy production is a key industry. Rally attendees roared when Sullivan nearly ​introduced Vance as the president of the US, rather than the vice president. Vance is seen as a leading Republican contender to succeed Trump in the White House.

Vance had not decided whether to ​seek the presidency in 2028. "I'm inherently a procrastinator," he said. "I really haven't thought about it much.

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