Vance Denies Iran Is at War as 790 US Troops Are Wounded and No End Date Emerges
Updated
Updated · CNN · Sep 3
Vance Denies Iran Is at War as 790 US Troops Are Wounded and No End Date Emerges
3 articles · Updated · CNN · Sep 3
Summary
JD Vance said the Iran conflict should not be called a “war” and offered no timeline for it to end or for gasoline to return below $3.
Three straight days of US-Iran exchanges this week undercut that framing, with Tuesday’s US operation striking nearly 60 targets near the Strait of Hormuz while escorting commercial ships.
Pentagon figures released Thursday put US casualties since late February at 790 wounded and 18 killed, and officials expect more strikes because Iran can quickly rebuild capabilities around the strait.
No talks are underway with Tehran, Vance said, adding Washington will not negotiate unless Iran stops firing at commercial shipping; the administration is also reviewing reports that four wedding attendees may have been killed.
The conflict’s persistence and higher gas prices are weighing on Republicans before the Nov. 3 midterms, even as Trump allies want the fighting to fade from view.