Vice President JD Vance on Sunday clarified that the United States is not at war with Iran, despite President Donald Trump’s recent order to strike three of the regime’s key nuclear sites.
Appearing on ABC’s This Week, Vance responded directly to host Jonathan Karl’s opening question: “No, we’re not at war with Iran, Jon,” he said. “We’re at war with Iran’s nuclear program. And I think the president took decisive action to destroy that program last night.”
The strikes, which targeted the Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan facilities, came after months of diplomatic stalemates and increased nuclear activity by the Iranian regime. Vance emphasized that the mission was narrowly focused and designed to prevent Tehran from achieving nuclear capability—without initiating a broader conflict.
“We don’t want regime change,” Vance said. “We want to end Iran’s nuclear program. That’s it. And this was a major step forward.”
The Vice President made clear that the United States had deliberately avoided civilian and non-nuclear military targets. “We didn’t bomb cities. We didn’t target their leadership. We hit the heart of their nuclear infrastructure—and we did it with precision.”
Vance also issued a warning to Tehran: retaliation would be met with overwhelming U.S. force. “If the Iranians attack us, they will be met with the full weight of American power,” he said. “We are in a maximum defensive posture. We’re ready.”
He pointed out that allowing Iran to obtain a nuclear weapon would be catastrophic, not only for the United States but for the entire region. “It would lead to disastrous military conflict across the Middle East,” Vance warned. “Our Gulf Arab allies don’t want that. Israel doesn’t want that. And neither do we.”
Vance noted that stopping Iran’s nuclear program is one of the rare issues that unites regional powers across sectarian and geopolitical divides. “When it comes to preventing Iran from going nuclear, the Arab world and Israel are on the same page.”
To Americans concerned about being dragged into another endless war, Vance offered reassurance. “The president is the last person looking for a protracted conflict,” he said. “This is a targeted mission with a clear objective: no nuclear Iran.”
He closed by stating that the Trump administration remains committed to peace through strength. “Our goal is simple—eliminate the nuclear threat. That will remain the guiding principle of American foreign policy moving forward.”