JD Vance Says US Ready for Iran Deal, Demands Cuts to Nuclear Enrichment Capacity

Washington: US Vice President JD Vance has said Washington remains ready to reach an agreement with Iran, but Tehran must show flexibility on its nuclear programme and reduce its uranium enrichment capacity.

In an interview with a news agency, Vance said Iran would need to scale back its enrichment capabilities as part of efforts to end the war.

He said assurances about reducing nuclear activities in the future would not be sufficient, questioning why Iran would need uranium enriched to 60 percent if it had no intention of developing nuclear weapons.

Vance said that if Iran wanted to demonstrate that it was not pursuing nuclear weapons, it should refrain from producing highly enriched nuclear material.

The US vice president reiterated that Washington was still willing to negotiate with Tehran but said Iran would have to show flexibility over its nuclear programme.

Vance also said the United States was uncertain about who ultimately holds decision-making authority in Tehran. He said Washington was negotiating with Iran’s president and foreign minister but did not know how much authority either official holds within Iran’s power structure.

According to Vance, the situation has become more complicated following the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Vance said he had spoken with field commanders about developments on the battlefield and maintained that the United States was not facing a shortage of weapons in the conflict with Iran.

He also said Iran had periodically targeted commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, but had largely failed to stop energy exports through the strategic waterway.

Meanwhile, Vance said he had not yet decided whether he would run for president in the future.