US Vice President Vance says Iran nuclear talks on ‘right pathway’
Vance says Iran can have civilian nuclear power but not bombs; ‘We think there is a deal here that would integrate Iran into the global economy’ while ending ‘any chance they get a nuclear weapon’
WASHINGTON — US Vice President JD Vance said Wednesday that talks on Iran’s nuclear program are heading in the right direction, stating that Tehran can have civil nuclear power but not enrichment that can lead to atomic weapons.
“Without prejudging the negotiations, I will say so far so good, we’ve been very happy [that] the Iranians have responded to some of the points that we’ve made,” Vance told the Munich Leaders Meeting in Washington. “So far, we’re on the right pathway.”
“We don’t care if people want nuclear power. We’re fine with that, but you can’t have the kind of enrichment program that allows you to get to a nuclear weapon, and that’s where we draw the line,” he continued.
Iran and the US have been in nuclear talks since April 12, their highest-level contact since Washington withdrew from the landmark JCPOA deal with Tehran in 2018 during US President Donald Trump’s first term in office.
When asked about whether a prospective deal with Iran would bear any similarity to the previous JCPOA, Vance pointed to “a couple issues with the earlier agreement,” claiming its “inspections regime was incredibly weak” and allowed Iran to stay on the path towards attaining a nuclear weapon.
“We think that there is a deal here that would really integrate Iran into the global economy, that would be really good for the Iranian people, but would result in the complete cessation of any chance that they get a nuclear weapon — that’s what we’re negotiating towards,” Vance said.
A fourth round of talks initially scheduled for May 3 was postponed, mediator Oman said, citing “logistical reasons.”
After the May 3 talks were postponed, a senior Iranian official told Reuters last week that the new date would be set depending on Washington’s conduct.
“US sanctions on Iran during the nuclear talks are not helping the sides to resolve the nuclear dispute through diplomacy,” the Iranian official had told Reuters. “Depending on the US approach, the date of the next round of talks will be announced.”
Trump has signaled confidence in clinching a new pact that blocks Iran’s path to a nuclear bomb, but has threatened to attack if diplomacy fails.
The US and other Western countries have long accused Iran of pursuing nuclear weapons — a claim Tehran denies, insisting that its atomic program is solely for civilian purposes.
However, Iran, which openly seeks Israel’s destruction, has accelerated production of 60 percent enriched uranium, an enrichment rate far above what is needed for civilian uses and a short technical step from weapons-grade uranium. It also continues to develop its ballistic missile capabilities.
The Times of Israel Community.