Vice President J.D. Vance clarified Sunday that the recent U.S. airstrikes on Iran do not mark the beginning of a war with the country but rather a targeted campaign against its nuclear ambitions.
Appearing on ABC’s This Week, Vance responded to questions about Saturday night’s strikes on Iranian enrichment facilities, stating:
“We’re not at war with Iran. We’re at war with its nuclear program.”
He added that while the full destruction of the program couldn’t yet be confirmed, it had been “substantially set back,” with Iran now “much further away from building a nuclear weapon than they were 24 hours ago.”
President Donald Trump had earlier claimed the strikes “completely and totally obliterated” key nuclear sites. One main target was Iran’s underground Fordo facility.
When asked about the 900 pounds of highly enriched uranium in Iran’s stockpile, Vance noted the U.S. would be addressing it diplomatically in the coming weeks.
Regarding possible Iranian retaliation, Vance made the administration’s stance clear: “If they choose escalation, we will respond with overwhelming force.”
He emphasized that Trump’s strategy was not to start a prolonged conflict but to neutralize a nuclear threat.
“We’re not aiming for regime change. We’re aiming for the end of the Iranian nuclear program.”
The situation remains fluid, but U.S. officials believe the operation achieved a major milestone in rolling back Tehran’s nuclear capability.
