Vice President Vance stated on Sunday that the United States has no plans to deploy ground troops into Iran and made clear there is no appetite within the administration for becoming entangled in a prolonged war. His remarks came as part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to reassure Americans that the recent military action — known as Operation Midnight Hammer — was limited in scope and strictly targeted at dismantling Iran’s nuclear capabilities.
Appearing on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Vance described the mission as a “precise, very surgical strike tailored to an American national interest,” and emphasized that the goal was to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon. He said he had “no fear” of this leading to a broader or long-lasting conflict.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio reinforced this position during his interview on CBS’ “Face the Nation.” He explained that the administration is not seeking escalation, and there are no current plans for further strikes unless Iran directly provokes the United States by attacking American personnel or military installations. “If they mess around, then we respond,” Rubio said, signaling a defensive posture rather than an aggressive strategy.
Both Vance and Rubio downplayed the idea that the United States is at war with Iran. Vance clarified that the U.S. is targeting Iran’s nuclear program, not the country itself, saying, “We destroyed the Iranian nuclear program. I think we set that program back substantially.”
Despite these assurances, neither official was able to confirm the full extent of the damage to Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. Their comments followed public statements from Iranian officials, including a spokesperson for Iran’s Foreign Ministry, who labeled the strikes a “betrayal of diplomacy” and issued a warning that the consequences of this action now rest with the United States and Israel.
While Iran has not yet detailed any potential retaliation, its government insists that it reserves the right to defend itself. The spokesperson did not rule out a response, only noting that Iran would “exercise its right of self-defense,” leaving open the possibility of further escalation. The situation remains tense, with the international community watching closely to see how Iran will react and whether the Trump administration’s efforts to contain the fallout will succeed.
