WASHINGTON: US Vice President JD Vance has said Washington wants long-term, verifiable assurances that Iran will not rebuild its nuclear programme, even as he claimed American military operations had already destroyed Tehran’s nuclear capabilities.
Speaking at a CBS News public forum, Vance said the Trump administration’s priority was to prevent Iran from restoring its uranium enrichment capacity or developing nuclear weapons in the years ahead, Al Jazeera reported.
He claimed the United States had achieved decisive success in certain aspects of the war against Iran but acknowledged that the longer-term challenge remained unresolved.
Vance questioned what would prevent Tehran from reviving its nuclear capabilities five years from now, after President Donald Trump’s administration had left office.
He stressed that Washington was seeking commitments that could be independently verified rather than relying solely on the destruction of existing facilities.
His remarks underscored the administration’s focus on securing lasting restrictions on Iran’s nuclear activities.
Tehran has consistently denied pursuing nuclear weapons, maintaining that its nuclear programme serves civilian purposes, including electricity generation and medical research.
Iran also insists it has the right to pursue peaceful nuclear technology, a position that remains at odds with Washington’s demands for guarantees against future enrichment and weapons development.