Vance says low oil prices are top US goal in Iran conflict

U.S. Vice President JD Vance stated on Thursday that the primary American objective in the Iran conflict is to maintain low oil and gasoline prices for citizens, with preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon coming in second. This stance differs from President Donald Trump's earlier framing of the war as solely aimed at preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, even at the expense of short-term economic costs for Americans.

Vance's remarks also highlight the war's increasing focus on controlling the Strait of Hormuz, a negotiating point Iran has prioritized. "Oil is down today and it's way down from the highs in the early days of the conflict," Vance noted on Fox News, emphasizing that this is his top priority - keeping oil and gas affordable for Americans nationwide.

"And then obviously, goal number two is to ensure that Iran never gets a nuclear weapon," he added. The Vice President, who has been among the administration members most critical of the Iran offensive launched in late February, now seems to reflect the more measured approach the U.S. president is adopting. This new strategy involves exerting strong economic pressure on Iran while the military confrontation in the Strait of Hormuz continues.

Vance also mentioned that Trump was at the peak of his authority, possessing various tools - diplomatic, military, and economic. The shift toward focusing on economic pressure arises as the diplomatic route seems obstructed, with both Washington and Tehran maintaining their demands for reopening the strait. Concerning military options, reports suggest that Trump must deal with dwindling stocks of certain missiles and drones.