Date: October 7, 2026
Reporter: Emilly Jordan
U.S. Vice President JD Vance has said Iran must make a “meaningful” reduction in its nuclear enrichment capacity if it wants to reach an agreement with Washington and bring the seven-month war between the two countries to an end.
In an exclusive interview with Reuters, Vance said the United States would not accept promises alone and was seeking concrete steps from Tehran to reduce its ability to enrich uranium. He argued that Iran's continued production of highly enriched material was inconsistent with claims that it does not intend to develop a nuclear weapon.
“If you don’t want a nuclear weapon, then why do you need 60% enriched fuel?” Vance said, arguing that Iran would need to demonstrate its commitment through an actual reduction in enrichment capacity rather than assurances about what it might do in the future.
Vance's comments come as the United States and Iran have exchanged proposals aimed at ending the conflict and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most important energy shipping routes. President Donald Trump has rejected Tehran's latest offer, while warning that U.S. military operations could intensify after the November midterm elections.
Despite the continuing military conflict, Vance said Washington remained open to reaching an agreement with Tehran. However, he emphasized that the United States wanted actions rather than verbal commitments.
“We're not going to trade words for actions,” Vance told Reuters.
The negotiations face an additional complication, according to Vance, because Washington is uncertain about who has final authority over major decisions in Tehran.
Vance said U.S. officials have been communicating with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, but he questioned how much authority they have within Iran's broader political structure following the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in U.S.-Israeli strikes at the beginning of the war.
“One of the things we picked up on is it's not totally clear how their country makes decisions,” Vance said.
Trump made a similar observation on Tuesday, saying that the United States did not know who was running Iran.
Iran has rejected the suggestion that its leadership structure is unclear. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said U.S. officials know who their Iranian counterparts are and understand Iran's decision-making system. He argued that the problem was instead contradictory statements and mixed messages coming from Washington.
The dispute over Iran's nuclear programme is taking place against the backdrop of a conflict that has caused major disruption to global energy markets. The Strait of Hormuz has become a central point of concern because of its importance to international oil shipments.
Vance told Reuters that Iranian forces have periodically been able to strike commercial vessels in the waterway but said they have been largely unable to prevent energy exports from continuing through the strait. He also said he had spoken directly with military commanders to assess conditions on the battlefield and dismissed concerns about critical U.S. ammunition shortages.
The conflict is also putting pressure on energy prices. Reuters reported Wednesday that Brent crude was trading above $100 a barrel as investors continued to assess supply risks linked to the Middle East conflict.
Vance has emerged as an important figure in the administration's efforts to negotiate an end to the war. He declined to describe himself as the person leading the peace talks, saying that the president remains ultimately responsible for U.S. policy.
“We're certainly involved,” Vance said. “Ultimately, the president of the United States is driving things.”
The war has also become a political issue in the United States ahead of the November midterm elections. Reuters reported that the conflict costs the United States roughly $3 billion a month and that higher energy prices have created political difficulties for Trump and other Republicans in competitive states.
Vance addressed those concerns while campaigning in Alaska for Republican Senator Dan Sullivan, who is facing a competitive re-election contest against Democrat Mary Peltola.
At the campaign event, Vance focused heavily on the cost of living and energy prices, issues that have become increasingly important to voters as the conflict continues to affect global energy markets.
Vance also rejected suggestions that criticism of the administration's handling of the war should determine whether voters support Republican candidates in the November elections.
The Alaska appearance also drew attention to Vance's political future. He is widely viewed as a potential Republican presidential contender in 2028, but when asked by Reuters whether he intended to seek the presidency, Vance said he had not made a decision.
“I really haven't thought about it much,” he said.
For now, however, the focus remains on the possibility of ending the war. The United States wants Iran to make substantial changes to its nuclear enrichment programme, while Tehran has sought an agreement that would address the conflict and allow the Strait of Hormuz to reopen.
The gap between those positions remains significant, and Washington's uncertainty over Iran's internal decision-making could further complicate negotiations. With energy markets already reacting to the prolonged conflict, any diplomatic breakthrough or further military escalation could have consequences well beyond the Middle East.