Iran-Israel War: US Vice President JD Vance's BIG statement, says, 'We're not at war with Iran...'

Hours after the United States struck key nuclear sites in Iran, Vice President JD Vance said that Washington is not at war with Iran, but with Tehran’s nuclear programme. His comments follow President Donald Trump's announcement of US strikes on Tehran, which is being seen as a major escalation to long-standing conflict in middle-east. 

“We’re not at war with Iran. We’re at war with Iran’s nuclear programme,” Vance said on NBC’s Meet the Press with Kristen Welker. On being asked how the US will respond if Iran retaliates, he continued, "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.”

Speaking about whether the nuclear sites in Iran are left with any remaining capacity, Vance said that he is confident that Washington has "substantially delayed their development of a nuclear weapon". 

Fordow, Natanz and Esfahan targeted 

US President Donald Trump on Saturday (local time) announced, "We have completed our very successful attack on the three Nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan.” 

Trump further said "now is the time for peace" in a dramatic message on 'X'. “All planes are now outside of Iran air space. A full payload of BOMBS was dropped on the primary site, Fordow. All planes are safely on their way home. Congratulations to our great American Warriors. There is not another military in the World that could have done this. NOW IS THE TIME FOR PEACE!”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also thanked the US President, describing him as "a friend like no other". "President Trump is a strong leader of the free world. He is a great friend of Israel, a friend like no other.In my name and on behalf of all the citizens of Israel, on behalf of the entire Jewish people, I thank him from the bottom of my heart", Netanyahu wrote on 'X'. 

Meanwhile, Iran has warned of "everlasting consequences" in the wake of American strikes. “The United States, a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, has committed a grave violation of the UN Charter, international law and the NPT by attacking Iran's peaceful nuclear installations,” Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said in a post on X.

“In accordance with the UN Charter and its provisions allowing a legitimate response in self-defense, Iran reserves all options to defend its sovereignty, interest, and people,” the Minister added.