Trump wants to stop the fighting. Iran has trouble knowing when to quit
Iran's leaders are wracked by power struggles, indecision and an inability to admit mistakes. Economic pressure might push them toward a political resolution
President Donald Trump downplayed the significance of the ongoing conflict in Iran, referring to it as "small potatoes" during an Oval Office discussion on September 4, 2026. He defended Vice President JD Vance's statement that the intermittent attacks between the U.S. and Iran do not constitute a "war." Trump acknowledged that the U.S. has incurred a cost of over $37.5 billion and lost 18 service members, but downplayed the intensity of the situation, calling it a "military conflict."
Vance, during a press briefing on Thursday, rejected the term "war" and stated that there has been no active shooting, emphasizing that the conflict has been ongoing for six months with no resolution by the November midterm elections. Trump further downplayed the impact of the conflict compared to other U.S. wars, noting that the U.S. has lost fewer lives in the Iran conflict than in Venezuela and Vietnam, and has not deployed troops into Iran.
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- Trump calls Iran conflict ‘small potatoes’ and says he agrees with Vance that it’s not a ‘war’ apnews.com
- Trump says US may hit Iran's Pickaxe Mountain soon al-monitor.com
- Trump warns Iran: We may hit Pickaxe very soon israelnationalnews.com
- Trump says US may hit Iran’s Pickaxe Mountain ‘soon’ middleeasteye.net
- ‘Treasonous scum’: Trump attacks media over Iran war coverage thehill.com
- Trump says US may hit Iran's Pickaxe Mountain soon jpost.com
- Trump hints at possible US strike on Iran’s Jabal Al-Fas nuclear facility english.ajel.sa
- WATCH: Trump calls Iran war 'small potatoes' and 'very intermittent' pbs.org
