Washington: US Vice President JD Vance has said Iran must make a meaningful reduction in its nuclear enrichment capacity before the United States will agree to an arrangement to end the war, putting the nuclear issue at the centre of continuing diplomatic efforts between Washington and Tehran.
In an interview with Reuters on Monday, Vance said the United States wanted Iran to take concrete steps rather than make promises about future restrictions on its nuclear programme. He questioned why Iran would need uranium enriched to 60 percent if it did not intend to build a nuclear weapon.
Vance said Washington remained open to an agreement, but wanted concrete Iranian nuclear concessions. He said the United States was not prepared to rely only on assurances about Iran's future intentions.
The comments came as diplomatic efforts continued to find a way to end the conflict and address the wider crisis around the Strait of Hormuz. The United States and Iran have exchanged proposals through mediators, but no comprehensive agreement to end the war has been confirmed.
Iran has proposed reopening the Strait of Hormuz and restoring normal maritime passage within seven days if specific conditions are met. Tehran has said the reopening is linked to measures concerning the conflict and the commitments contained in an earlier understanding.
The disagreement over the order in which these issues should be addressed remains a major obstacle. Iran has focused on ending military pressure and restoring navigation through the Strait, while Vance has made clear that Washington wants the nuclear issue addressed as part of any settlement.
The exact meaning of the US demand for a meaningful reduction in enrichment remains unclear. Washington has not publicly set out a complete list of the limits it wants Iran to accept. It is also unclear whether the United States would require Iran to stop enrichment completely, reduce the amount of enriched uranium it holds, limit its centrifuges or take other specific nuclear steps.
Vance also said Washington remained uncertain about how decisions were being made inside Iran. Iranian officials have rejected that assessment, saying US officials know their Iranian counterparts and understand Iran's decision making system.
Iran has an established political leadership that includes President Masoud Pezeshkian, Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf. Araghchi and Qalibaf have been involved in diplomatic discussions surrounding the conflict.
The current war began with US and Israeli strikes on February 28. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed during the conflict. Iran's Assembly of Experts later appointed Mojtaba Khamenei as the country's new Supreme Leader on March 8.
Iran's nuclear programme has been at the centre of tensions with Western countries for years. Tehran has maintained that its nuclear activities are for peaceful purposes, while the United States and its allies have raised concerns about the possibility of Iran developing the ability to produce a nuclear weapon.
The reference to uranium enriched to 60 percent is particularly important in the current negotiations. Uranium enriched to that level is well above the level normally required for civilian nuclear power, although it remains below the level generally associated with weapons grade uranium.
The Strait of Hormuz has added another major dimension to the conflict. Iran has linked the reopening of the waterway to broader conditions, while the United States and other countries have stressed the importance of maintaining freedom of navigation.
The Strait is one of the world's most important energy routes, and continued disruption has raised concerns about oil supplies, shipping and energy prices. Any prolonged disruption could also affect energy markets far beyond the Middle East.
Despite continuing diplomatic contacts, no comprehensive agreement has been reached. Washington and Tehran remain divided over Iran's nuclear programme, sanctions, the Strait of Hormuz and the conditions required to end military operations.
Vance's latest comments underline the main difficulty facing negotiators. Washington wants concrete nuclear concessions from Iran before an agreement can be reached, while Tehran has continued to focus on ending military pressure and restoring navigation through the Strait.
The diplomatic process remains open, but significant differences still have to be resolved before the two sides can reach a lasting settlement.