JD Vance Defends U.S. Strikes on Iran: U.S. Is Not at War With Iran, But Its Nuclear Program

U.S. Vice President JD Vance has addressed the nation following President Donald Trump’s recent decision to launch massive airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, stating that the United States is “not at war with Iran — we are at war with its nuclear program.”

In a Sunday interview, Vance emphasized that diplomacy was on the table, but claimed Iran had never engaged in the talks in good faith. “We didn’t blow up diplomacy,” he said. “The diplomacy never was given a real chance by the Iranians.”

The comments follow a high-profile military operation in which President Trump ordered the use of advanced bunker-busting bombs to target Iran’s main nuclear sites, reportedly in coordination with an Israeli offensive.

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Trump said the overnight strike had “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, significantly setting back Tehran’s program and marking a major escalation in regional tensions.

Vance clarified the goals behind the U.S. strikes, stressing that regime change is not on the agenda. “We do not want to protract this. We want to end the nuclear program, and then we want to talk to the Iranians about a long-term settlement here,” he said.

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While Iran has vowed to defend itself and condemned the strikes as acts of aggression, Vice President Vance maintained that the action was necessary after repeated failed attempts to engage Iran through diplomacy.

He also noted that Washington has received some “indirect” communications from Tehran since the attack, though the content of those messages has not been disclosed.

The United Nations has responded with deep concern. Secretary-General António Guterres said he was “gravely alarmed” by the U.S. strikes, warning of the potential for further escalation and urging all sides to return to dialogue.

Despite the rising tensions, Vance made it clear that the U.S. has no interest in sending troops into Iran. “We have no interest in boots on the ground,” he affirmed, signaling a desire to avoid a prolonged or full-scale war.

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