Vice President JD Vance said Monday that any agreement with Iran would require the destruction of its stockpile of highly enriched nuclear material, while making clear that broader incentives would depend on Tehran ending enrichment and accepting strict verification measures.
Speaking on Fox News Channel’s “Hannity,” Vance said the administration’s plan is to work with Iran and international bodies to eliminate what he described as the country’s cache of highly enriched material, which he referred to as “nuclear dust.” He said doing so would further weaken Iran’s nuclear capabilities, which he argued have already been severely damaged.
“What we’re going to do, Sean, is destroy the highly-enriched material,” Vance said. “We’re going to do it with the Iranians.” He added that President Donald Trump wants the U.S. to coordinate with both Iran and international organizations to dismantle the stockpile.
When host Sean Hannity asked whether Iran was agreeing never to enrich uranium again, Vance stopped short of saying that had already been settled. Instead, he said Iran is currently committed to eliminating its enriched stockpile, and warned that any additional benefits under the arrangement would hinge on whether Tehran ultimately agrees to stop enriching altogether.
Vance said the broader framework is still being worked out and that technical details are expected to be negotiated over the next one to two months. But, he said, the structure of the deal is straightforward: Iran would receive significant benefits only if it meets U.S. demands, and nothing if it fails to comply.
Later in the interview, Hannity pressed Vance on whether the agreement would include “any place, anywhere, any time” inspections by U.S. officials. Vance said that issue remains under negotiation and described it as one of the final major points still to be resolved.
Vance further stated that Iran will be rewarded based on actions, not words.
