Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
US 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 end the seven-month war between the two countries.
In an exclusive interview with Reuters, Vance questioned Iran’s need to enrich uranium to 60 per cent, saying Tehran must demonstrate through concrete action that it does not intend to build a nuclear weapon.
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“If you don’t want a nuclear weapon, then why do you need 60% enriched fuel?” Vance said. “If you want to show commitment to not building a nuclear weapon, don’t build highly enriched fuel.”
Vance, who has emerged as a key figure in the Trump administration’s efforts to negotiate an end to the conflict, said Washington would not accept promises alone. “We’re not going to trade words for actions,” he said.
The US and Iran have exchanged proposals in recent weeks aimed at ending the war and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial global energy shipping route. However, US President Donald Trump rejected Tehran’s latest offer and has warned that military operations could intensify after the November midterm elections.
Vance also said Washington remained uncertain about how decisions are ultimately made within Iran’s power structure. He said the US was negotiating with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, but questioned how much authority they have following the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in joint US-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.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei rejected that assessment, saying US officials understand Iran’s decision-making system. He accused Washington of creating confusion through “contradictory positions and mixed messaging”.
Vance also defended the US military campaign, saying he had spoken directly with field commanders about battlefield conditions. He dismissed concerns over critical munitions shortages and said Iran could periodically strike commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz but was largely unable to stop energy exports through the waterway.
The conflict has also become a political challenge for Trump and Republicans ahead of the November midterm elections, with the war costing the US around $3 billion a month and pushing up energy prices.
Vance, who is widely seen as a potential Republican presidential contender in 2028, said he had not yet decided whether he would seek the White House.
“I really haven’t thought about it much,” he told Reuters.
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SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
