Iran needs to guarantee “meaningful” cuts in its nuclear enrichment program if U.S. Vice President JD Vance is to be believed, who said the country would have to make them if Washington is willing to reach a settlement to end the seven-month dispute between the two nations.
During an exclusive interview with Reuters, Vance said that the United States would want concrete steps instead of assurances from Tehran to scale back its nuclear programme in the future. He made a special reference to Iran’s enrichment of uranium to 60%.
Vance said Iran has said it is opposed to making nuclear weapons, and can prove that “by making a downward adjustment to its capacity to enrich uranium. “Let’s get down to work and make a long term commitment,” he said if an agreement is to be made with Iran.
In recent weeks, Iran has made offers and counteroffers with the U.S. for the resolution of the conflict and the restoration of freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz connecting the Persian Gulf to the Red Sea, which serves as a vital channel for shipping most of the world’s energy. But U.S. President Donald Trump has so far rejected Tehran’s fresh proposal and threatened to ‘increase the pressure on’ military operations following the mid-term elections in November.
Washington continued to be open to a diplomatic deal, but would not settle for verbal assurances instead of tangible nuclear concessions, Vance said. “Words are not the kind of battemen’ we’re going to exchange,” he continued.
The negotiations also are hampered by confusion in Washington about Iran’s decision-making process. The US is in contact with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and his foreign minister Abbas Araqchi, but is unsure about their influence in Iran’s more complex power dynamics, Vance said.
Esmaeil Baghaei, the spokesman of the Iran’s Foreign Ministry, challenged that, estimating that US officials are familiar with Iran’s decision-making process, and that the sole issue is the contradictory stand of Washington.
Vance has been a prominent figure in the U.S. administration’s talks to put the conflict to an end. He does caution that US officials are working to achieve President Trump’s goals, but that he ultimately controls the negotiations.
Iran’s nuclear programme continues to be a major topic in any possible deal between the West and Tehran, the latest comments suggest.