US Vice President Calls for Iran to Cut Enrichment as War Talks Continue

US Vice President Vance’s new demand

Vice President JD Vance, speaking to Reuters on 7 October 2026, urged Iran to lower its uranium enrichment level as a condition for ending the war. He said that if Iran does not want a nuclear weapon, it should not produce highly enriched fuel. The International Atomic Energy Agency had reported that Iran had enriched uranium to 60 percent, below the roughly 90 percent considered weapons-grade.

Hardline US officials keep the floor

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, addressing reporters in Athens, reiterated that Iran cannot possess a nuclear weapon and accused Tehran of losing control of the Strait of Hormuz. President Donald Trump warned that the war would end either “the nice way or the not-so-nice way.”

Iran’s response

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian called negotiations with Washington futile, claiming that the US imposes war after talks. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, speaking to ambassadors on 4 October, said that only negotiations based on justice and fairness could end the conflict, indicating that a deal might still be possible.

Context of the proposals

Iran’s latest proposal, presented at the UN General Assembly in late September, sought to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and resume negotiations. It outlined a timetable that would stop fighting on all fronts, lift the naval blockade and oil sanctions, and release frozen Iranian assets. The proposal also called for a seven-day reopening of the Strait of Hormuz before negotiating Iran’s nuclear programme.

Remaining obstacles

Experts note that Iran’s priorities extend beyond the nuclear question. Sanctions relief, lifting of the naval blockade, unfreezing of assets, and an end to regional conflicts are seen as essential for a comprehensive agreement. Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz remains uncertain, despite US claims of Tehran’s loss of control.