Fence: Iran must reduce uranium enrichment capabilities to end the war
Amman2 min read
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J.D. Vance, the US Vice President, said in an exclusive interview with Reuters that Iran must make a "substantial" reduction in its uranium enrichment capabilities to meet US demands and end the war between the two countries that has been ongoing for more than seven months, even as Washington remains uncertain about how Tehran makes its decisions in the negotiations.
After long being skeptical of US intervention in foreign wars, Vance has played a leading role in negotiating a resolution to the conflict and brokered a temporary agreement in September that quickly collapsed. The war has shaken global energy markets and has become a political burden for US President Donald Trump and his Republican colleagues ahead of the congressional midterm elections in November.
Vance said on Monday after an election tour in Alaska that any agreement would require Iran to reduce its nuclear enrichment capability, not to provide assurances of reducing its nuclear capabilities in the future.
He added, "If you don't want a nuclear weapon, why do you need 60 percent enriched fuel? If you want to show a commitment to not making a nuclear weapon, don't make highly enriched fuel. This is a very basic issue."
He said, "I believe that if they want to show their commitment to not making a nuclear weapon, they will take concrete action on their enrichment capabilities."
Iran and the United States have exchanged proposals in the past few weeks aimed at ending the war and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global energy shipping lane. Trump rejected Tehran's latest offer and warned that military operations could escalate after the midterm elections.
Vance said the United States remains open to reaching an agreement, but will require concrete Iranian nuclear concessions.
He said, "We will not replace words with actions."
