A senior Iranian official confirmed to Reuters on Tuesday that the United States’ recognition of Tehran’s right to enrich uranium represents a “red line” that cannot be waived, while he pointed out that US Vice President J.D. Vance’s statements regarding the Iranian nuclear program represent American “ideas and requests,” noting that Tehran and Washington have not yet conducted negotiations on the nuclear program.
J.D. Vance had said, in an exclusive interview with Reuters, that Iran must make a “fundamental” reduction in its uranium enrichment capabilities. To meet the demands of the United States and end the war that has been ongoing between the two countries for more than seven months, even at a time when Washington is still unsure of how Tehran will make its decisions in the negotiations.
The official added that the United States must meet Tehran's conditions first before discussing the nuclear issue, noting that the American ideas presented regarding the nuclear program conflict with Iran's demands.
He explained that Tehran “will never give up” its right to enrich uranium, but stressed that the details of the enrichment process could be discussed at a later time.
He said that the United States' recognition of Iran's right to enrichment represents a "red line" for Tehran.
In the past few weeks, Iran and the United States have exchanged proposals aimed at ending the war and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping corridor for energy at the global level.
Trump rejected Tehran's latest offer and warned that military operations could escalate after the midterm elections.
Vance stated that the United States is still open to reaching an agreement, but will require tangible Iranian nuclear concessions, and said: “We will not exchange words for actions.”
Vance explained that what complicates matters is that Washington is unsure about who is making the decisions in Tehran.
J.D. Vance, US Vice President, said in an exclusive interview with Reuters that Iran must make a “fundamental” reduction in its uranium enrichment capabilities. To meet the demands of the United States and end the war that has been ongoing between the two countries for more than seven months, even at a time when Washington is still unsure of how Tehran will make its decisions in the negotiations.
Vance has long been skeptical of US intervention in foreign wars, but he played a leading role in negotiating a solution to the conflict and brokered an interim agreement last June that quickly collapsed. The war shook global energy markets and became a political burden on US President Donald Trump and his colleagues in the Republican Party, ahead of the midterm congressional elections next November.
Vance said in the interview last Monday, following an election tour in Alaska, that any agreement would require Iran to reduce its nuclear enrichment capacity, and not provide assurances that it would reduce its nuclear capabilities in the future.
He added: “If you do not want a nuclear weapon, why do you need 60 percent enriched fuel? If you want to demonstrate a commitment to not making a nuclear weapon, don't make highly enriched fuel. “This is a very fundamental issue.”
He continued: “I think that if they wanted to show their commitment not to make a nuclear weapon, they would take concrete measures regarding their enrichment capabilities.”
In the past few weeks, Iran and the United States have exchanged proposals aimed at ending the war and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping corridor for energy at the global level. Trump rejected Tehran's latest offer and warned that military operations could escalate after the midterm elections.
Vance stated that the United States is still open to reaching an agreement, but will require tangible Iranian nuclear concessions, and said: “We will not exchange words for actions.”
Vance explained that what complicates matters is that Washington is unsure about who is making the decisions in Tehran.
He added that the United States is holding talks with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, but he pointed out that it is not clear how much power they have within the Iranian power structure, after the joint American-Israeli strikes at the beginning of the war resulted in the killing of Iranian Leader Ali Khamenei.
“One of the things we noticed is that it's not entirely clear how their country makes decisions,” Vance said.
Trump said yesterday, Tuesday, that his “biggest problem” is that no one knows who runs Iran.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ismail Baghaei said on Sunday that American officials are well aware of who their Iranian counterparts are, and how the decision-making system works in Iran.
Baqaei said, in a weekly press conference: “The problem is actually quite the opposite, as it lies in the contradictory positions and conflicting messages issued by American officials.”
Vance told Reuters that he personally held talks with field commanders to assess the conditions on the battlefield. He rejected concerns about a severe shortage of ammunition, adding that while Iranian forces are able, from time to time, to strike commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz, they are largely unable to prevent the export of energy through this waterway.
Vance declined to reveal whether he is leading talks to reach an agreement, although he is frequently referred to as the White House's chief negotiator.
“We are involved, for sure,” he said. “Ultimately, it is the President of the United States who is in charge.”
The war, which costs three billion dollars a month, has become a major issue in the election campaign. The rise in energy prices has made Trump and the Republicans need to defend themselves in contested states that will determine who will control Congress.
Vance sought to mitigate criticism of Trump's handling of the conflict, telling voters that they should not let the issue prevent them from supporting Republicans in the elections next month.
In Alaska, Vance organized a rally in support of Republican Senator Dan Sullivan, who is fighting a close re-election battle with his Democratic rival, Mary Peltola. Trump won Alaska by 13 percentage points in 2024, but the high costs of daily living made the outcome in the state uncertain.
Before the interview with Reuters, Vance focused much of his speech on concerns about affordability, especially energy. Alaska's remote location makes consumer goods more expensive, and energy production is a major industry.
The crowd at the rally cheered when Sullivan nearly introduced Vance as the President of the United States rather than the Vice President. Vance is seen as one of the leading Republican candidates to succeed Trump in the White House.
Vance told Reuters afterward that he had not yet decided whether he would run for president in 2028.
He continued: “I am, by nature, a person who tends to slow down. "I didn't really think about it much."
