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JD Vance declines to call U.S. action in Iran a 'war'

newsSep 3, 2026251,246

Vice President J.D. Vance told reporters “I wouldn’t call it a war” when pressed for a timeline on the Trump administration’s campaign against Iran, saying there is “no active shooting” between American and Iranian forces and describing past exchanges as occasional “flare ups.” Vance said major combat operations lasted about six weeks and credited U.S. strikes, naming operations Midnight Hammer and Epic Fury, with destroying Iran’s nuclear facilities and defense industrial base and making it harder for Tehran to rebuild its nuclear program. His remarks came more than six months after President Trump announced the start of the operation, which the Independent reports has killed 18 U.S. service members, injured at least 750 more, and cost between $71 billion and $118 billion. When asked whether the end of the campaign depends solely on Tehran, Vance said Washington has a responsibility to respond to attacks on commercial shipping because the U.S. can prevent damage to world energy markets. Vance’s comments followed President Trump calling Iran’s latest strikes a “love tap” after U.S. forces hit Iranian targets “very hard.” The Wall Street Journal reports Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered extensions of troop deployments in the region through next year, leaving U.S. forces on an extended combat footing.

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