Vance Says Keeping Oil Prices Low Is US ‘Goal Number One’ in Iran War

US Vice President JD Vance emphasized on Thursday that the primary objective of the US in the Iran war is to maintain low oil and gasoline prices for Americans, while preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon ranks as the second priority. This statement deviates from President Donald Trump's consistent framing of the conflict as solely aimed at preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, even if it meant short-term economic hardships for Americans.

Vance's remarks, made on Fox News, also highlight the shifting focus of the war towards control of the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has made a top priority in negotiations. "I know that oil is down today and it's way down from the highs in the early days of the conflict," Vance stated. "That's goal number one – keep oil and gas cheap for Americans all over our country." "And then obviously goal number two is ensure that Iran never gets a nuclear weapon," he added.

The vice president has been among the administration members most critical of the offensive launched against Iran in late February. However, his recent comments seem to confirm the more cautious approach now favored by the president, which centers on maintaining economic pressure on Iran alongside a military standoff in the Strait of Hormuz.

Vance noted that Trump had "a lot of tools – diplomatic, military and economic" at his disposal during the early stages of the conflict. The decision to prioritize economic pressure as the primary strategy follows the realization that diplomatic efforts have stalled, with both Washington and Tehran maintaining firm stances on reopening the strait.

In terms of military options, US media reports indicate that Trump must navigate the rapid depletion of stocks of certain missiles and drones.