Vance Dismisses Prospect of Protracted US War With Iran Amid Stalled Nuclear Talks
US Vice President JD Vance has firmly stated there is "no chance" the United States will become entangled in a full-scale, long-term war with Iran, even as President Donald Trump considers launching fresh strikes. Speaking aboard Air Force Two on Thursday, Vance emphasised that the administration is still evaluating its options while indirect negotiations continue in an effort to curb Iran's nuclear programme.
Military Caution and Diplomatic Deadlock
Vance's comments come amid private warnings from General Dan Caine, chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who reportedly cautioned Trump that an attack on Iran could escalate into a prolonged conflict with significant US casualties. Trump dismissed these reports on social media, asserting that General Caine believes any military action would be "easily won," though he acknowledged a preference for avoiding war.
Echoing Trump's recent rhetoric, Vance noted, "I think we all prefer the diplomatic option. But it really depends on what the Iranians do and what they say." This stance follows revelations that Trump's advisers would prefer Israel strike Iran first, believing Americans would more readily support backing an ally than initiating a conflict with Tehran without clear provocation.
Nuclear Talks Hit Impasse Over Key Demands
Indirect talks between the US and Iran in Geneva concluded on Thursday with both sides remaining far apart on critical issues, according to unnamed US officials cited by the Wall Street Journal. The discussions, held exactly one week after Trump set a 10 to 15-day deadline for a deal, saw Iran objecting to ending enrichment, dismantling nuclear facilities, and imposing permanent restrictions on its programme.
Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, had earlier insisted negotiations would focus solely on nuclear topics and sanctions removal, while Washington pushed to expand talks to cover Iran's missile stockpiles, support for armed groups, and human rights issues. Oman's foreign minister and a US official indicated some progress was made, with technical experts expected to meet in Vienna next week.
Military Buildup Continues as Trump Weighs Options
With diplomatic progress uncertain, Trump has accelerated the deployment of military assets to the region in a show of force aimed at pressuring Iran into concessions. The USS Gerald R. Ford, the world's largest aircraft carrier, arrived in Israel on Friday, joining a dozen F-22 fighter jets already sent by the US. Additionally, a dozen warships, including the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier, are operating in the northern Arabian Sea.
Vance pointed to the US capture of Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro in January and strikes on Iran last summer as examples of "very clearly defined" operations, contrasting them with the prospect of another open-ended Middle Eastern conflict. He resolutely told the Washington Post, "The idea that we're going to be in a Middle Eastern war for years with no end in sight—there is no chance that will happen," referencing unsuccessful US campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Washington views Iran's nuclear enrichment as a potential pathway to nuclear weapons and has been unequivocal in opposing such an outcome. As tensions simmer, Trump has not ruled out the use of force, maintaining pressure on Tehran while Vance's assurances seek to temper fears of another protracted desert war.
