Vance says Iran fight isn’t a ‘war’ as Trump tries to navigate unpopular conflict as election nears

Vice President JD Vance denied using the term "war" to describe the ongoing U.S. conflict with Iran, as the administration navigates the unpopular issue ahead of the upcoming midterm elections on November 3. During a press briefing at the White House, Vance stated, "I wouldn't call it a war," when asked if the fighting could be concluded before the election. He emphasized that there was currently no active shooting occurring.

The vice president's stance comes as Iran retaliated against U.S. strikes by targeting Kuwait earlier that day. Vance highlighted the U.S. responsibility to carry out the strikes due to Iran's targeting of commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.

Vance avoided setting specific timelines for the conflict, asserting that the outcome would depend on Iran's actions. He acknowledged the difficulty in predicting when the fighting would cease, stating, "When you ask, 'When will this end?' 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."

In July, the administration faced criticism for reclassifying fallen soldiers and wounded troops as "Overseas Operations" in the Defense Casualty Analysis System. This change was made to avoid inflating the numbers of casualties resulting from the conflict.