WASHINGTON – US Vice President JD Vance has said Washington remains open to an agreement with Iran, but Tehran must show flexibility over its nuclear programme and make a meaningful reduction in its uranium enrichment capacity.
Speaking in an interview, Vance said assurances about reducing nuclear activities in the future would not be enough. He questioned why Iran would need fuel enriched to 60% if it did not intend to develop a nuclear weapon.
Vance said Iran would need to demonstrate its commitment by taking concrete steps, including avoiding the production of highly enriched fuel.
The US vice president also said Washington was uncertain about where decision-making authority ultimately lies within Iran’s political structure. He said US officials were negotiating with Iran’s president and foreign minister, but it remained unclear how much influence they have within the country’s wider power structure.
He said the situation has become more complicated following the reported killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Vance also said he had spoken with field commanders about conditions on the battlefield and dismissed concerns about shortages of weapons in the war against Iran.He said Iranian forces had periodically targeted commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, but had largely failed to prevent energy exports through the strategic waterway.
Vance also said he had not yet decided whether he would seek the US presidency in the future.
