Vance says Iran conflict isn’t a ‘war,’ even as he refuses to say when it will end

Vance Says Iran Conflict Isn’t a War

Earthguardiansonline.com – Vance says Iran conflict isn’t a war, a framing Vice President JD Vance pressed during a White House briefing Thursday while declining to offer any timeline for when hostilities will end or when gasoline prices might fall below pre-war levels. The conflict, which erupted with joint US-Israeli airstrikes in late February, has produced 790 wounded and 18 killed among American service members, according to updated Pentagon figures released the same day.

“Right now, there is no active shooting,” Vance told reporters, arguing that because formal combat operations ended months ago, the current exchanges of fire shouldn’t be labeled a war. That characterization came despite three consecutive days this week in which the US and Iran traded strikes around the Strait of Hormuz.

No End Date, No Negotiations

Asked whether the conflict would conclude before the November 3 midterm elections, Vance offered no answer. “When you ask when will this end, you’re asking me a question like when will the Iranians stop shooting at ships? I think the reality is I don’t know the answer to that question. You would have to ask the Iranians,” he said.

“We’re not talking to them, and we’re not going to talk to them unless they stop shooting at commercial shipping.”

Officials described ongoing US strikes near the strait as necessary because Iran retains the capacity to rebuild its capabilities. Tuesday’s multi-faceted operation hit nearly 60 military targets — air-defense sites, radar systems, maritime assets, mine-laying platforms, and communications nodes — while simultaneously escorting commercial vessels through the waterway. Military planners likened the continuing campaign to “mowing the grass” or a game of “whack-a-mole,” conceding no swift resolution is in sight.

Vance, who initially opposed going to war with Iran, had brokered a ceasefire earlier in the summer that collapsed after two weeks. Calm held through most of August, but strikes resumed this week after the US targeted Iranian positions it said were preparing to launch mines into the waterway. Vance acknowledged reports that four people attending a wedding celebration in a village near the strait were killed, declining to rule out civilian casualties while insisting the military “never targets civilians in combat.”

Energy Prices and Election Pressure

Energy companies remain wary of sending vessels through the strait even with military escorts, and the conflict has pushed gasoline prices higher — a sore point for Republicans seeking to hold congressional majorities. Trump insisted this week he feels no pressure to wind down hostilities before ballots are cast, though advisers concede the further the war recedes from public view before November, the better.

Vance would not predict when fuel prices would normalize. “I’m not going to make a promise about when it’s going to return to $3,” he said. “What I will say is that we have to remember why we are doing this? Number one, it’s so that Iran never has a nuclear weapon.” He spoke from the White House briefing room, unused by the administration for 42 days; press secretary Karoline Leavitt departed last week with no successor named.

In a lighter aside, Vance discussed his recently slimmed-down figure, crediting a high-protein diet prescribed by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. “I eat a lot of high protein stuff and I eat a lot of sauerkraut,” he said. “If you want to enjoy what you eat, do not call Bobby Kennedy.”

Frequently Asked Questions

When will the Iran conflict end?

Vance offered no timeline Thursday, saying the answer depends on whether Iran stops targeting commercial shipping. No formal negotiations are currently underway.

How many US service members have been affected?

The Pentagon reported 790 wounded and 18 killed since the conflict began in late February.

Are the US and Iran negotiating?

No. Vance stated the administration will not resume talks unless Iran ceases attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.

What happened to the ceasefire Vance negotiated?

The ceasefire brokered earlier in the summer lasted roughly two weeks before both sides returned to a cycle of strikes as Iran sought to maintain control of the strait.