📰 Vice President Vance: U.S. at War with Iran’s Nuclear Program — Not Iran
By USA NEWS TODAY| The National News Desk | June 22, 2025
NESS ZIONA, ISRAEL — In a high-stakes moment for global diplomacy, Vice President JD Vance appeared on NBC’s Meet the Press Sunday to clarify the Biden administration’s position following U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites. “We’re not at war with Iran,” Vance said. “We’re at war with Iran’s nuclear program.”
The comments come just hours after the U.S. launched coordinated strikes on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure — the first direct American military attack on Iranian soil. While President Trump claimed the sites were “completely and totally obliterated,” Vance was more measured, saying the U.S. has “substantially delayed” Tehran’s nuclear ambitions, though he did not confirm total destruction.
“I’m not going to get into sensitive intelligence,” Vance said. “But I feel very confident we’ve set their nuclear development back significantly — and that was the objective.”
When pressed on whether Iran’s Fordo facility — one of the most fortified sites — was destroyed, Vance sidestepped specifics:
“Severely damaged versus obliterated — I’m not exactly sure what the difference is. But we know we’ve dealt a serious blow.”
Backlash and Fallout
The airstrikes triggered an immediate response from Tehran, which launched a retaliatory missile barrage on Israel, hitting multiple targets, including Tel Aviv. Meanwhile, fears are mounting that the conflict could spiral into a regional or even global war.
Iranian officials downplayed the damage, insisting sites like Fordo remain operational. Independent verification remains unavailable amid tight security and communications blackouts in affected areas.
Tensions also surged in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping lane. Iran has threatened to retaliate economically by targeting oil transport, but Vance warned such a move would be self-destructive.
“If they shut down the Strait, they’d be destroying their own economy,” he said. “It would be suicidal.”
Diplomacy Still on the Table?
Despite the aggressive military action, Vance said the U.S. still desires peace — but only if Iran halts its nuclear pursuits.
“We didn’t blow up diplomacy,” he added. “They never gave it a real chance.”
The vice president’s remarks reflect a delicate political balancing act: maintaining American strength while avoiding full-scale war. Whether Iran views the situation the same way remains to be seen.
💬 What are your thoughts on America’s latest move in the Middle East? Is diplomacy still alive? Share your opinion below.
