Vance says Iran must cut uranium enrichment capacity to end war with US
In short
US Vice President JD Vance said Iran must make a substantial reduction in its uranium enrichment capacity to end its conflict with the United States, while saying Washington remains open to a peace deal. Kommersant reported that the US also wants the seven-month war ended and the Strait of Hormuz unblocked. Vance said uncertainty over who holds final power in Tehran after the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is complicating the talks.
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US Vice President JD Vance said Iran must make a substantial reduction in its uranium enrichment capacity to end its conflict with the United States. “I think if they want to show a readiness to give up building nuclear weapons, they should do something substantial about their enrichment capacity,” Kommersant quoted him as saying in an interview with Reuters. TASS, RBC and RIA Novosti also reported the call, with TASS describing Washington as open to an agreement but requiring concrete concessions from Tehran in the nuclear sphere. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Kommersant reported that Vance said the United States remains open to a peaceful agreement capable of ending the seven-month war and unblocking the Strait of Hormuz, but that the demand for nuclear concessions remains fundamental. RBC reported his view that if Iran does not want nuclear weapons, it does not need highly enriched fuel. [ 2 , 4 ]
According to Kommersant, Vance said the situation in the negotiations is complicated by uncertainty over Iran's power structure after the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, with it not fully clear who takes final decisions in Tehran. [ 4 ]
Kommersant described the previous model of restrictions under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, under which Iran agreed to cut the number of centrifuges from 19,000 to 6,104 and not to enrich uranium above 3.67% for at least 15 years. It said the demand to substantially cut capacity therefore implies limits not only on the declared enrichment level but also on the infrastructure that determines how quickly production could be increased. [ 4 ]
The same outlet said Iran was ready in April 2025 to discuss limiting its enrichment level but demanded guarantees that the United States would not withdraw from a new agreement. It noted that after Washington left the JCPOA in 2018, Iran began a year later to abandon its previous obligations, raise its enrichment level and increase its stockpiles, leaving capacity parameters and guarantees of the deal's survival as linked conditions of a single agreement. [ 4 ]
Why it matters
The documents describe a seven-month war that has left the Strait of Hormuz blocked, a waterway whose status affects shipping beyond the region. The demand concerns enrichment capacity, which the documents say determines how quickly Iran could increase production, not just the declared enrichment level. Vance's stated uncertainty about decision-making in Tehran suggests the outcome of any deal remains open.
Key facts
- US Vice President JD Vance called on Iran to make a substantial reduction in its uranium enrichment capacity, saying that if Iran wants to show it will not build nuclear weapons it should act on that capacity. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Vance said the United States remains open to a peaceful agreement, but the demand for nuclear concessions is fundamental. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
- According to Kommersant, the aim of such an agreement would be to end the seven-month war and unblock the Strait of Hormuz. [ 4 ]
- Vance said uncertainty over Iran's power structure after the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is complicating the negotiations, with it unclear who takes final decisions in Tehran. [ 4 ]
- Under the previous JCPOA model, Iran agreed to cut the number of centrifuges from 19,000 to 6,104 and not to enrich uranium above 3.67% for at least 15 years. [ 4 ]
- Vance's remarks were made in an interview with Reuters, according to Kommersant. [ 4 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- Which outlet or format carried Vance's remarks first, and where the interview took place. Only Kommersant identifies the remarks as an interview with Reuters; the other documents do not name the interviewer or venue.
- Who holds final decision-making authority in Tehran. Stated by Vance as an uncertainty in a single document, not confirmed elsewhere.
- Whether Iran will accept the demand to cut enrichment capacity, and whether it would receive guarantees against a US withdrawal from any new deal. No document reports an Iranian response to the latest demand.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- TASS reports Vance's call for Iran to reduce uranium enrichment volumes. [ 1 ]
- RBC reports Vance's condition for ending the war with Iran. [ 2 ]
- RIA Novosti reports Vance's call for Iran to cut its enrichment capabilities. [ 3 ]
- Kommersant publishes its account, citing Vance's interview with Reuters, the Strait of Hormuz and the April 2025 talks. [ 4 ]