Following Trump's Footsteps.. Vance: It Is Not Clear "Who Makes the Decisions" in Iran

- U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance stated that the United States is in talks with Iranian leaders, but it is "still unsure who actually makes the decisions in Tehran." Vance told Reuters in an interview on Monday that Washington is speaking with Iranian President Masoud Bezhakian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, but he added that he is not sure about the extent of the authority held by the two men. He added, "One of the things we've noticed is that it is not entirely clear how decisions are made in their country.","

He reiterated that ending the ongoing war, which has lasted for 7 months, depends on Iran reducing its nuclear program; pointing out that Tehran needs to make a "tangible" reduction in its enrichment capabilities. Vance said, "If you do not wish to possess a nuclear weapon, why do you need fuel enriched to 60%?"

"And if you want to demonstrate your commitment to not making a nuclear weapon, do not produce highly enriched fuel. I believe that if they want to show their commitment to not making a nuclear weapon, they need to take a tangible step regarding their enrichment capabilities," he added. "We will not substitute actions for mere words."

Vance's remarks come days after U.S. President Donald Trump told a crowd in Alabama that the confusion over who holds power in Iran complicates efforts to reach an agreement. Trump said, "They have lost everything, including their leaders by the way," describing a "leadership vacuum" in Tehran, claiming that "there is no one willing to take charge and run the country." He continued, "And that is part of our problem; I don’t know who - for heaven's sake - I should be dealing with.

I wonder: who do I talk to in Iran? There is no one, no one is there. And no one inside," he insisted, however, that the war "will end soon, one way or another."