At the Munich Leaders Meeting in Washington on Wednesday, US Vice President JD Vance said that ongoing talks with Iran over its nuclear program are progressing positively.

"We're on the right pathway," Vance declared, affirming that the US is open to Iran pursuing civilian nuclear energy but remains adamantly opposed to any enrichment activities that could lead to nuclear weapons development.

"We don't care if people want nuclear power. We're fine with that," he said, but emphasized, "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."

Furthermore, he characterized the ongoing nuclear negotiations with Iran as progressing well, stating, "So far, so good." He expressed optimism about reaching an agreement that would bring Iran back into the global economic fold while ensuring it is barred from acquiring a nuclear weapon.

Vance also touched on broader nonproliferation goals, saying that President Donald Trump “loathed nuclear proliferation” and would be willing to engage with both Russia and China in the future to explore ways to reduce global nuclear arsenals.

It is worth noting that the diplomatic engagement marks the highest-level contact between the US and Iran since the Trump administration withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal in 2018. Although a fourth round of talks was initially set for May 3, Oman, serving as mediator, announced its postponement due to “logistical reasons".

Western governments have long suspected Iran of seeking nuclear arms, a claim Tehran rejects, maintaining that its nuclear ambitions are strictly peaceful.

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Also addressing the war in Ukraine, Vice President Vance called for direct negotiations between Kiev and Moscow to end the conflict now in its third year. “We think it's probably impossible for us to mediate this entirely without at least some direct negotiation between the two. And so that's what we focus on," he said.

Despite holding separate dialogues with both sides, Washington has expressed growing frustration over the lack of progress and warned that it may exit the process unless developments occur soon.

President Donald Trump, who has redefined US-Russia policy since returning to office, had a tense exchange with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during a February 28 White House meeting initially intended to seal a minerals agreement.

Ukraine has since renegotiated the deal, aiming for joint development of its critical mineral resources with US partners. Kiev sees the agreement as a step toward securing American security guarantees amid the ongoing war.

Vance softens rhetoric, reaffirms US-European ties

In a marked shift from earlier combative remarks, Vice President Vance said the United States and Europe remain closely aligned. “I do still very much think the US and Europe are on the same team,” he said. “I still think that this European alliance is very important... we've got to talk about the big questions,” he added, while affirming, “We are very much real friends.”

Vance previously caused alarm in Europe during a February speech in Munich, where he criticized EU immigration and free speech policies, claiming censorship posed a graver threat than foreign military aggression. “No voter on this continent went to the ballot box to open the floodgates to millions of unvetted immigrants,” he said at the time, in a defense of populist-right movements.

The vice president also clashed with Zelensky in a heated Oval Office exchange, with Trump intervening to scold the Ukrainian leader. In March, Trump sent Vance to Greenland to reinforce US claims over the Danish-controlled territory.

However, speaking on Wednesday, Vance struck a conciliatory note, saying, “European civilization and American civilization, European culture and American culture, are very much linked, and they're always going to be linked."

“I think it's completely ridiculous to think that you're ever going to be able to drive a firm wedge between the United States and Europe,” the US top figure added.