WASHINGTON — Vice President JD Vance on Thursday pushed back on describing the United States’ standoff with Iran as “a war,” arguing that the absence of sustained, large-scale combat makes the label inaccurate. He also said China appears prepared to cooperate with Washington’s push to cut Tehran off economically as part of a broader effort to secure a peace agreement.
“I wouldn’t call it a war. Right now, there is no active shooting,” Vance told reporters during a White House press briefing.
He acknowledged that violence has erupted at points during the confrontation, but said the most intense phase was limited. “Major combat operations… lasted for about six weeks,” he said.
Vance declined to predict when the conflict might finally be resolved, as President Trump continues trying to negotiate an end to fighting that has stretched beyond six months after he initially suggested it could be over in roughly four weeks.
“Let’s say I told you three months. Say I told you three days,” the vice president said, cautioning against setting a public timetable.
“Okay, and then the Iranians start blowing up oil and gas ships, and the United States is the only country with the capability to ensure that those oil and gas ships get to market… It would be irresponsible for us to write out our strategy and our timeline for an Iranian nation that simply cannot honor its commitments,” Vance added.
The vice president also suggested that Beijing, a key trading partner for Iran, may be open to working with the Trump administration’s pressure campaign. He pointed to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s Operation Economic Outcast, which aims to use financial isolation to force concessions from the Islamic Republic.
“You do have, I think, the Chinese, the PRC, being willing to play ball here,” Vance said.
“I’m not saying they’re doing everything that we’ve asked them to do, but I think that the PRC has been much more responsible, certainly than the Iranians, and much more responsible than a couple of other nations as well.”
