Vice President J.D. Vance said on Thursday that he would not describe the military operation between the United States and Iran as “a war”, even as fighting between the two sides flared this week.

Vance Rejects a “War” Description

Speaking during a press briefing, Vance said there was “no active shooting” at the time, adding that he recognised hostilities had “flared up” in other places and moments.

The exchanges of force this week marked the largest burst of fighting in weeks after about a month of relative calm, according to the accounts cited by Vance.

On Tuesday, the US military carried out roughly 100 strikes against Iranian targets.

Strikes Follow Threats In Strait Of Hormuz

The Pentagon described the action as retaliation for threats in the Strait of Hormuz.

Vance said the timing for a complete end to the fighting ultimately rested with Iran.

When asked when Iran would stop attacking ships, he said he did not know the answer and that it would be for Iran to determine. He also said the US would not depend on Iran behaving “responsibly” or negotiating in “good faith”.

Purpose Of US Action

Instead, Vance said the US would use the available “tools” to address two objectives: preventing the United States from facing the threat of an Iranian nuclear programme, and ensuring world energy markets remained adequately supplied.

Civilian Death Reports Under Review

Vance also addressed Iranian officials’ claims that a US missile strike killed at least four civilians at a home in southern Iran where people were celebrating a wedding.

He said he was “extremely skeptical” of the reports, arguing that Iranian state media had not “been a very good scribe” about developments in the conflict. Vance said he was not presenting a finding on the specific incident, but said he had been briefed and that an investigation into what happened was under way.

He added that the US “never” targets civilians in combat. Vance said he did not think the US had enough information “one way or the other” regarding the specific claim.

Skepticism Over Cyberattack Claims

Vance further responded to a report by NBC News that Iranian cyberattacks had targeted US infrastructure.

He said the administration felt “quite confident” that the homeland was safe, while also saying he believed Iran would try to carry out actions it lacked the capability to perform. He said the US government was focused on anticipating potential cyber threats and responding appropriately to them.

Vance said he would be “much more worried about cyberattacks from other actors”.

NBC News reported on Wednesday that Iranian hackers had targeted US water systems, telecommunications, energy and other infrastructure. The outlet said sources indicated the attempted attacks had not been successful and that they focused on automated systems connected to the internet.

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4 September 2026

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A blockade is an act of war.

QED, the US is at war with Iran.

5 hours ago, webfact said:

Purpose Of US Action

Instead, Vance said the US would use the available “tools” to address two objectives: preventing the United States from facing the threat of an Iranian nuclear programme, and ensuring world energy markets remained adequately supplied.

And no sucess (ZERO) so far. They still have their enriched uranium. And the gas prices today are at a whopping 4.14 $ per gallon...

https://gasprices.aaa.com/

So only using these "tools" wich haven't brought any sucess costed the taxpayer only 113.3 billion $.

https://iran-cost-ticker.com/

Vance Says US-Iran Clashes Are Not A War

That way an US President can bomb the sh!t out of any country he wants with ever having to go to Congress under the War Powers Act.

1 hour ago, JBChiangRai said:

A blockade is an act of war.

QED, the US is at war with Iran.

Piracy is an act of war as well, and the US, EU, and UK are rapidly becoming the key users of domestic "board and confiscate law" which are primarily used against Russia, Iran, and any other country the West wants to destabilized - and my guess is that Chinese ships will soon be on that list. My guess is that Russia is very close to saying, "That's enough," and engaging in quid pro quo.

6 minutes ago, connda said:

Piracy is an act of war as well, and the US, EU, and UK are rapidly becoming the key users of domestic "board and confiscate law" which are primarily used against Russia, Iran, and any other country the West wants to destabilized - and my guess is that Chinese ships will soon be on that list. My guess is that Russia is very close to saying, "That's enough," and engaging in quid pro quo.

I don’t disagree with what you said, and it is concerning.

5 minutes ago, connda said:

and my guess is that Chinese ships will soon be on that list.

Never happen. China has plenty of the rare earths needed for the 2 plus year backlog of missiles and Military Weapons.

Additionally China has an abundance of items need for the Energy Sector and High Tech products.

33 minutes ago, connda said:

Vance Says US-Iran Clashes Are Not A War

That way an US President can bomb the sh!t out of any country he wants with ever having to go to Congress under the War Powers Act.

The War POwers Act limit the US President's ability to initiate or escalate military actions abroad without congressional approval. War declaration is not a requisite. The Act was passed by a bipartisan House but for Trump to claim that the 60 days deadline was complied with the ceasefire. Further resolutions were called but without the President signature, it will not be enforced plus the fact that he has veto power. The resolutions were also blocked by those chicken hearted Republicans after they were berated by Trump. Things will change after mid-term if the war continue till then.

6 hours ago, J Branche said:

Never happen. China has plenty of the rare earths needed for the 2 plus year backlog of missiles and Military Weapons.

<snip>

We can always buy them from Canada

If it was a "war" then the US government would have to pay benefits to deceased and wounded military personnel and their families; as it is not a "war" then benefits do not have to be paid?

23 hours ago, JBChiangRai said:

A blockade is an act of war.

QED, the US is at war with Iran.

No, we're not in a war with Iran. Good is my witness (JD Vance, AI)

«Vance Says US-Iran Clashes Are Not A War»

Ever heard something like that before?

On 9/4/2026 at 4:11 AM, webfact said:

he would not describe the military operation between the United States and Iran as “a war”,

It's just another police action while those that want regime change are waiting for the boots on the ground to happen...Vietnam 2.0. ?

1 hour ago, newbee2022 said:

No, we're not in a war with Iran. Good is my witness (JD Vance, AI)

No, we're not in a war with Iran. God is my witness (JD Vance, AI)

Casualties of peace. Kind of gave the game away when tried to rename Defense Dept 'Department of War'.....

"What did you do in the peace, daddy?"

What Vance may mean is that it is just an S.M.O. (a Special Military Operation).

Like Putin, desperate to not call it a war otherwise it will end up another loss to go along with Afghanistan, Iraq, Vietnam and Korea! This is Trumps endless war!

It’s not a war. Trump’s given them every opportunity to come to the table and give up any dream of obtaining nuclear weapons.

He’s been extremely generous by not finishing the job much sooner.

He has still accomplished more than any other president.

They’re incapable of negotiating anything.

Time to finish off the regime once and for all.

So much for their verbal diarrhea of sending our carriers to the bottom of the Arabian Sea.

As I recall their frigate is still collecting barnacles on the bottom.

Like his beloved clown master this goon wants to insist it's just an excursion. I recently took some excursions, two to America, one to Laos, and one to Italy, and for some reason I did not inflict that much damage while I was there. As far as I know no women and children died as a result of my presence. I guess other American excursions are different.

Edited 16 hours ago16 hr by spidermike007

On 9/4/2026 at 4:11 AM, webfact said:

Vice President J.D. Vance said on Thursday that he would not describe the military operation between the United States and Iran as “a war”

That's a bit like me saying that I wouldn't describe Vice President J.D. Vance as a moron, because I prefer calling him an idiot.

1 hour ago, HolmesEquivelant said:

It’s not a war. Trump’s given them every opportunity to come to the table and give up any dream of obtaining nuclear weapons.

He’s been extremely generous by not finishing the job much sooner.

He has still accomplished more than any other president.

They’re incapable of negotiating anything.

Time to finish off the regime once and for all.

So much for their verbal diarrhea of sending our carriers to the bottom of the Arabian Sea.

As I recall their frigate is still collecting barnacles on the bottom.

Deluded or naive?

He also said he's doing "God's work". How vain and arrogant (not to mention stupid) can you be?

But not calling it a war is probably something he picked up from Russia, with their 'special military operation' in Ukraine, which is also definitely not a war, according to Russia. And I gather that, like Russia, the US goverment is doing their very best not to have to pay certain benefits to family members of US soldiers killed in this Iran war. Simply because it is not declared as a war.

And these people (I mean Vance, Hegseth cum suis) call themselves patriots...

Edited 9 hours ago9 hr by rudi49jr

10 hours ago, Rinato said:

Deluded or naive?

You tell us. Which are you?

Trumpian, moronic semantics. Nothing regarding what they have done with Iran is better than before they decided on this confrontation.

The fall back will always be "they can't have a nuclear weapon". O.K. fine you've worn that one out while making everything regarding the relationship worse.

Total failure by a completely inept administration.

Edited 4 hours ago4 hr by Priorexpat