Lucrezia Ciotti J.D. Vance downplays the US - Iran confrontation , ruling out the possibility of a full-blown war. According to the US vice president, major combat operations have ended, although tensions remain high in the Strait of Hormuz and Washington continues to keep "all options on the table."
Hormuz, nuclear power, and pressure on Tehran: Washington keeps "all options on the table"
America's priority now remains preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and ensuring the safety of commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz . Vance assured that Washington is keeping " all options on the table ," from economic and diplomatic pressure to military instruments and covert operations. However, no direct negotiations are currently planned: according to the vice president, Tehran will first have to cease attacks on commercial shipping.
Vance also argued that Iran was progressively losing operational capabilities in the Strait and called on Tehran to " stop acting crazy and stop shooting at commercial ships . " On the energy front, he credited the United States with averting a global crisis, recalling the passage of approximately 15 million barrels of oil through Hormuz the previous day.
Data cited by the Associated Press, however, indicate that the overall number of ships in transit remains significantly lower than pre-conflict levels.
The vice president also expressed his " extreme skepticism " about Iranian claims of an alleged American attack on a wedding party, specifying that the United States does not deliberately target civilians and that the incident is under investigation. Vance finally called China " far more responsible " than Iran in the maritime safety debate, emphasizing Beijing's willingness to cooperate, while behind the scenes, Gulf states, Turkey, and Azerbaijan are reportedly also contributing to US efforts to increase pressure on Tehran.
US-Iran, Vance's position: "We're not at war, there's no firefight."
US Vice President J.D. Vance rejects the idea that the current military confrontation with Iran can be defined as a war, arguing that the most intense phase of American operations is now over. Speaking at a White House briefing and answering a question about the possibility of the crisis being resolved before the November midterm elections, Vance stated: " I wouldn't call it a war. There are no firefights going on right now . "
The vice president admitted, however, that in recent weeks there have been moments when hostilities have intensified again, without indicating a possible end date for the crisis. He reiterated this position when asked by journalists: " When you ask me when it will end, you're asking me a question like: When will the Iranians stop shooting at ships? I don't know the answer. You should ask the Iranians . " Reuters confirms that Washington considers major combat operations to be concluded, although renewed exchanges of attacks between the United States and Iran have been reported in recent days.