Vice President JD Vance asserted during a Sunday appearance on NBC’s “Meet the Press” that the United States is “not at war with Iran,” but rather engaging specifically against its nuclear program.
His remarks followed an announcement by President Trump on Saturday evening regarding U.S. airstrikes targeting three nuclear facilities in Iran. These strikes occurred overnight, bringing the United States directly into the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran. Vance characterized the mission as highly successful, adding, “What we did is we destroyed the Iranian nuclear program. I believe we’ve significantly set that program back, and we managed this without putting American pilots’ lives at risk. This is an extraordinary achievement. Regardless of political views, everyone should feel proud of what our military accomplished.”
During the exchange, Vance also addressed concerns about potential Iranian retaliation, as Tehran has openly threatened to respond following the strikes. He emphasized that deciding an American response ultimately lies with the president. Explaining America’s position to Iran, he said, “What we’ve communicated to the Iranians is clear: we don’t seek war, we seek peace—but a peace in which Iran is not equipped with nuclear weapons. That’s exactly what the president achieved yesterday.”
Vance reiterated that the United States’ primary objective remains preventing Tehran from procuring nuclear weaponry capabilities, insisting that the recent military actions were specifically directed toward that goal, not broader hostility toward Iran as a nation.
