“I think our biggest red line is the Iranian nuclear weapons program,” Vice President JD Vance told NBC on Meet The Press on Sunday.
“We’re not at war with Iran,” Vance insisted, adding, “We’re at war with Iran’s nuclear program.”
“We do not want war with Iran. We actually want peace, but we want peace in the context of them not having a nuclear weapons program, and that’s exactly what the president accomplished last night,” Vance explained.
Why It Matters
The U.S. strikes on three Iranian nuclear sites—dubbed Operation Midnight Hammer—in Isfahan, Fordow and Natanz marks the first direct involvement of American in the escalating crises between Iran and Israel.
The action has received backlash, with many citing the lack of Congressional approval for the military move.
What To Know
President Donald Trump decided to continue with the planned attack because he believed the Iranians “stopped negotiating in good faith,” according to Vance.
Opportunity was another factor for the timing of the strikes, with Vance saying they had a “narrow window in which” to “set that program back,” adding, “Which is why Fordow was destroyed last night.”
When asked if the strikes have completely destroyed Iran’s nuclear capabilities, Vance declined to discuss specifics, citing it as intelligence, but did say the nuclear program had been pushed back considerably.
Vance described the strikes as an opportunity for a “reset” in U.S.-Iran relations and reiterated that the administration remained open to negotiation if Tehran abandoned its nuclear ambitions.
“I really think there are two big questions for the Iranians here. Are they going to attack American troops, or are they going to continue with their nuclear weapons program?” Vance said.
“And if they leave American troops out of it, and they decide to give up their nuclear weapons program once and for all, then I think the president has been very clear, we can have a good relationship with the Iranians.”
Vance also responded to Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi declaration that the strikes were the end of diplomacy, saying, “We didn’t blow up the diplomacy. The diplomacy never was given a real chance by the Iranians.
“Our hope…is that this maybe can reset here,” he continued.
Earlier Sunday during a press conference, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the operation, executed with B-2 bombers and decoy maneuvers, avoided confrontation with Iranian air defenses and resulted in “significant destruction” at all three target sites.
In the wake of the strikes, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard launched missiles at Israel, injuring civilians and damaging infrastructure. Israel claimed it swiftly neutralized the threat and responded militarily against positions in western Iran.
What People Are Saying
Vice President JD Vance said Sunday on Meet The Press: “We felt very strongly that the Iranians were stonewalling us. They weren’t taking this seriously. They were trying to draw this process out as long as possible so that they could rebuild their nuclear weapons program without the threat of American action. We had a limited window in which we could take out this Fordow nuclear facility.”
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said at a Pentagon news conference Sunday morning: “This is a plan that took months and weeks of positioning and preparation so that we could be ready when the president of the United States called. It took a great deal of precision. It involved misdirection and the highest of operational security.”
What Happens Next
The Pentagon has said that additional strikes remain possible if Iran retaliates.
Global leaders have called for diplomatic engagement to prevent a larger war, while both U.S. and Iranian officials have stated conflicting intentions for the path forward.
The status of Iran’s nuclear material and capabilities has not been fully determined at this time.
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