US Vice President JD Vance said the United States has already met most of its military goals in the ongoing conflict with Iran, adding that President Donald Trump intends to continue operations “for a little while longer” to ensure Iran’s government is significantly weakened. Vance indicated that Washington does not plan to stay engaged in the conflict for the long term, though he acknowledged there could be short-term economic effects.
“The president is going to keep at it for a little while longer to ensure that once we leave, we don’t have to do this again for a very, very long time,” Vance said during an interview with conservative podcaster Benny Johnson.
He explained that the primary objective is to reduce Iran’s military strength and stop it from advancing its nuclear ambitions, calling it an effort “to neuter them for a very, very long time.”
“We need to neuter them [the Iranian government] for a very, very long time, and that’s the purpose,” he added.
Vance also addressed rising fuel costs, admitting petrol prices have increased due to the conflict but expressing confidence they will stabilize soon. “This is a very, very temporary reaction to what is ultimately going to be a short-term conflict.”
He reiterated that the administration’s goal is to complete its mission decisively and withdraw, emphasizing that Trump is not pursuing a prolonged presence in Iran.
“I think the president has been very clear about this: We’re not interested in being in Iran a year down the road, two years down the road,” Vance said. “We’re taking care of business, we’re going to be out of there soon, and gas prices are going to come back down.”
Meanwhile, the US military released footage on Saturday showing strikes on Iranian naval targets. The United States Central Command said in a post on X, “For decades, Iranian naval vessels have threatened and harassed global shipping in regional waters, but those days are over.”
