Vice President JD Vance says Iran must significantly reduce its nuclear enrichment capabilities to secure a peace deal with the US and end the seven-month war, while acknowledging Washington remains uncertain about who is calling the shots in Tehran.

Vance, who has emerged as a key figure in efforts to end the conflict, told Reuters that any agreement must include concrete reductions in Iran’s enrichment capacity, not promises of future action.

“If you don’t want a nuclear weapon, then why do you need 60% enriched fuel?” Vance said following a campaign stop in Alaska on Monday.

“I think if they want to show a commitment to not building a nuclear weapon, they would do something meaningful on their enrichment capacity.”

The US and Iran have exchanged proposals in recent weeks aimed at ending the fighting and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial route for global energy shipments. President Donald Trump rejected Tehran’s latest proposal and has warned that military operations could intensify after November’s midterm elections.

“We’re not going to trade words for actions,” Vance said.

Vance said negotiations have been complicated by uncertainty over Iran’s leadership following the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in US-Israeli strikes at the start of the war.

US officials have dealt with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, but Vance questioned how much authority they wield.

“One of the things we picked up on is it’s not totally clear how their country makes decisions,” he said.

Trump made a similar claim Tuesday, saying it was unclear who was running Iran.

Iran has rejected that characterization. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said Sunday that US officials understand Iran’s system of government and blamed Washington for “contradictory positions and mixed messaging.”

Vance said he has also spoken directly with US military commanders and played down concerns about depleted ammunition stocks. He said Iranian forces have occasionally succeeded in striking commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz but have failed to stop energy shipments through the waterway.

Asked whether he was acting as the administration’s chief peace negotiator, Vance said: “We’re certainly involved. Ultimately, the president of the United States is driving things.”

The war, which is costing about $3 billion a month, has become an increasingly significant political issue ahead of the midterms as higher fuel prices put pressure on Trump and Republicans.

Vance was in Alaska campaigning with Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan, who faces Democrat Mary Peltola in November.

Asked separately whether he could run for president in 2028, Vance said he had not decided.

“I’m inherently a procrastinator,” he said. “I really haven’t thought about it much.”

US unsure who is calling the shots in Iran