Vice President JD Vance stated Thursday that he will not set an "artificial timeline" for the conflict with Iran, emphasizing that the duration of the engagement depends on Iran's actions, particularly regarding attacks on commercial shipping.
"You're asking me a question like, when will the Iranians stop shooting at ships? I think the reality is, I don't know the answer to that question. You would have to ask the Iranians," Vance said during a White House press briefing. He added that the impact of these attacks on global energy markets diminishes daily.
Vance indicated that the U.S. will not rely on Iran to "behave responsibly" or "negotiate in good faith." This stance follows recent attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. The administration has shifted away from diplomatic efforts, such as a previously attempted Memorandum of Understanding, and is now focusing on renewed economic and military pressure.
The U.S. military has been conducting strikes against targets within Iran since Feb. 28, 2026, when Operation Epic Fury commenced under President Trump's direction. According to U.S. Central Command, recent strikes targeted air defense sites, radar systems, maritime assets, mine-laying capabilities, and communication facilities.
Vance characterized the ongoing situation not as a full-scale war, noting the absence of active ground combat, but as "places where this is flared up." He acknowledged that major combat operations concluded in under six weeks.
"Since then, we destroyed, of course, their nuclear facilities with Midnight Hammer. With epic fury, we destroyed their defense industrial base for producing weapons and also a lot of their conventional military and then we made it harder for them to rebuild that nuclear program," Vance stated. He affirmed that the administration's objective is to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and to ensure stable global energy markets.
