FAIRBANKS, Alaska, October 07, 2026 (DAILYNWZ) — U.S. Vice President JD Vance said Iran must make a “meaningful” cut to its nuclear enrichment capacity for Washington to agree to end the seven-month war, while acknowledging that the United States remains uncertain about how decisions are made in Tehran.
Speaking to Reuters after a campaign event in Alaska, Vance said any agreement would require Iran to reduce its enrichment capacity rather than simply promise future limits. He pointed specifically to Iran’s production of uranium enriched to 60%.
“If you don’t want a nuclear weapon, then why do you need 60% enriched fuel?” Vance said, arguing that a meaningful reduction in enrichment would demonstrate a commitment not to build a nuclear weapon.
The United States and Iran have exchanged proposals in recent weeks aimed at ending the conflict and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial route for global energy shipments. President Donald Trump rejected Tehran’s latest offer and has warned that military operations could intensify after the November midterm elections.
Vance said Washington remained open to an agreement but expected concrete Iranian concessions.
“We’re not going to trade words for actions,” he said.
Uncertainty Over Tehran’s Decision-Making
The negotiations face another obstacle: Washington says it is unclear who ultimately has the authority to make decisions in Iran.
Vance said U.S. officials have been talking with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, but questioned how much power they wield within Iran’s political structure. That uncertainty emerged after U.S. and Israeli strikes at the start of the war killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
“One of the things we picked up on is it’s not totally clear how their country makes decisions,” Vance said.
Trump separately said Tuesday that his “biggest problem” was that no one knows who is running Iran.
Iran rejected that characterization. Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said Sunday that U.S. officials know their Iranian counterparts and understand how Iran’s decision-making system works. The real problem, he said, was contradictory positions and mixed messages from U.S. officials.
Vance said he had spoken directly with field commanders to assess conditions on the battlefield. He dismissed concerns about critical ammunition shortages and said Iranian forces could periodically strike commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz but were largely unable to stop energy exports through the waterway.
Vance declined to say whether he was leading the peace negotiations, although he is widely viewed as the White House’s leading negotiator.
“We’re certainly involved,” he said. “Ultimately, the president of the United States is driving things.”
The war is also becoming a domestic political problem for Trump and Republicans. It costs about $3 billion a month, according to the source, while higher energy prices are weighing on Republicans in competitive states ahead of the midterms.
Vance was in Alaska campaigning for Republican Senator Dan Sullivan, who faces Democrat Mary Peltola in a close reelection race. Asked afterward whether he might seek the presidency in 2028, Vance said he had not decided.
“I’m inherently a procrastinator,” he said. “I really haven’t thought about it much.”