Skeptical Vance reportedly sought direct intel from US generals on state of Iran war

The New York Times reported that US Vice President JD Vance sought "unvarnished assessments" of the Iran war from military commanders across the Middle East, Europe, and Asia. Vance, who opposed the war from the beginning, directly requested detailed intelligence from commanders regarding their objectives, tactics, casualty estimates, and Iran's potential actions in the Strait of Hormuz.

He was particularly interested in understanding how adaptable the Iranians had become and how much punishment their government could withstand. Vance also wanted individual judgments from the commanders, in their own words, before they were combined into a Pentagon viewpoint. Additionally, he inquired about the commanders' stockpiles and how transferring weapons to the Middle East could impact their capacity to deter China, Russia, and North Korea.

The commanders' responses were blunt, with Vance learning that many were concerned about their dwindling stocks of Patriot interceptors, which were crucial for their air defenses. By late spring, one theater had only fewer than 100 of these interceptors left. The war had also depleted the theater's supplies of Army Tactical Missile Systems, capable of reaching 190 miles, and Precision Strike Missiles, which were intended to replace them.

The information for this report was gathered through interviews with over half a dozen current and former officials.