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Vance Says Iran Must Cut Enrichment to End War
The United States and Iran are trying to find a way to end their seven-month war.
US Vice President JD Vance says Iran must make a real cut to its ability to enrich uranium.
He says promises alone are not enough.
Iran and the United States have sent proposals to each other, but President Donald Trump rejected Iran’s latest offer.
The two countries also want to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, an important route for ships carrying energy.
Vance said the US is unsure who makes the main decisions in Iran.
Iran disagreed and said the problem is mixed messages from US officials.
The war has disrupted energy markets, and Vance said Iran can still strike some ships but is largely unable to stop energy exports.
JD Vance said Iran must make a meaningful reduction in nuclear enrichment for the US to agree to end the seven-month war.
Vance said Washington remained open to a deal but would require concrete action, not promises or verbal assurances.
The US and Iran have exchanged proposals aimed at ending the conflict and reopening the Strait of Hormuz; Donald Trump rejected Tehran’s latest offer.
Vance questioned how decisions are made in Iran and how much authority President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi hold; Iran rejected his assessment.
Vance said Iranian forces could still strike commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz but were largely unable to prevent energy exports through it.
- Who
- The United States and Iran; US Vice President JD Vance spoke about the negotiations.
- What
- Vance said Iran must meaningfully reduce its nuclear enrichment capacity for Washington to agree to end the war.
- Where
- The negotiations concern the United States and Iran, including the Strait of Hormuz.
- When
- The remarks were made in an interview published October 7, 2026; the war was described as seven months old.
- Why
- The US says concrete limits on Iran’s enrichment are needed to demonstrate commitment not to build a nuclear weapon.
US position
Iranian response
Who makes decisions in Iran
US position
Vance said Washington was uncertain how Iran makes decisions and how much authority its negotiating counterparts hold.
Iranian response
Iranian spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said US officials know their Iranian counterparts and understand the decision-making system; he blamed contradictory US positions and mixed messaging.
Conditions for an agreement
US position
Vance said Iran must take meaningful, concrete steps to reduce enrichment rather than offer assurances.
Iranian response
The articles report that Iran has submitted a proposal, but do not specify Iran’s stated position on the US demand for enrichment cuts.
Key facts
- War duration
- Seven months, according to the articles.
- US position
- Washington is open to a deal but wants concrete Iranian action on enrichment.
- Enrichment reference
- Vance questioned Iran’s need for 60% enriched fuel if it does not seek a nuclear weapon.
- Latest proposal
- Donald Trump rejected Tehran’s latest proposal.
- Negotiation aim
- End the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
- Iranian response
- Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said the issue was contradictory positions and mixed messaging from US officials.
- Military and shipping
- Vance said Iranian forces could strike commercial ships but were largely unable to prevent energy exports through the Strait of Hormuz.
- War cost
- The second article described the conflict as costing $3 billion per month.
Quotes
JD Vance
US vice president
“If you don’t want a nuclear weapon, then why do you need 60% enriched fuel? 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.”
news18.com
“I think if they want to show a commitment to not building a nuclear weapon, they would do something meaningful on their enrichment capacity.”
NDTV
Esmaeil Baghaei
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson
“The problem is actually the opposite: it lies in the contradictory positions and mixed messaging from US officials.”
news18.com
NDTV
Sources
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