Vance: Conflict with Iran Is Not a War

US Vice President JD Vance said that the fighting between the United States and Iran does not constitute a war, and he declined to specify a timeline for the end of the conflict.

At a press conference at the White House, Vance praised US efforts to facilitate oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, where Iran has been disrupting navigation since the start of the war, and credited Washington’s actions with helping to avoid a more severe global energy crisis.

He refused to describe the conflict as a “war,” stating that the United States had ended major combat operations with Iran despite renewed fighting this week.

He added that Washington’s focus now is on ensuring that Tehran cannot continue to disrupt commercial oil shipping operations.

Vance said, “I will not call it a war... At this time, there are no ongoing armed clashes. I acknowledge that there have been places where gunfire has occurred.”

In response to repeated questions about the timeline for the war, Vance said that ending it requires Iran to stop firing on commercial ships.

He said, “When will the Iranians stop firing on ships? I think the truth is that I do not know the answer to that question.”