US Vice President JD Vance has stated that he is unable to predict when the conflict with Iran will end or when fuel prices will return to pre-escalation levels.
Vance said the outcome of the conflict depends primarily on Iran, while rejecting the use of the term "war" to describe the current situation. According to him, active combat operations had ended several months ago.
However, the United States and Iran have exchanged fire for three days this week, including in the strategic Strait of Hormuz. According to Pentagon data, 790 American soldiers have been wounded since the conflict began, while 18 others have been killed.
The United States struck about 60 military targets near the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday. The targets included air defense systems, radars, ships, mine-laying equipment and communications centers.
The US military is expected to continue military operations, while US officials warn that Iran still has the capacity to restore some of its military capabilities in a short time, reports the Associated Press.
The conflict has also dealt a severe blow to energy markets, causing fuel prices to rise and adding to concerns within the Republican Party about the impact the developments could have on the congressional elections.
US President Donald Trump has stated that he feels no pressure to end the conflict before the election, although some of his allies acknowledge that, from a political point of view, it would be more advantageous for the war not to dominate the public debate until November.
Vance, who had initially opposed involvement in the war, took charge of efforts to find a diplomatic solution. However, the ceasefire he negotiated collapsed after two weeks, returning military clashes.
Meanwhile, the US administration is investigating reports that four people were killed at a wedding near the Strait of Hormuz during US strikes. Asked about the incident, Vance did not rule out the possibility that civilians were among the victims.
Tehran, on the other hand, has responded with attacks on US bases in the region. Vance confirmed that there are currently no negotiations between Washington and Tehran and stressed that the United States will not sit at the negotiating table as long as Iran continues its attacks on commercial ships.
The US vice president also refused to predict when fuel prices could return to $3, stressing that the Trump administration's main objective remains preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
