The White House has firmly rejected suggestions that recent remarks by Vice President JD Vance hinted at the possibility of a US nuclear strike against Iran, as tensions escalate ahead of a high-stakes deadline set by President Donald Trump.
The denial came after Vance stated that US forces possessed capabilities they had “so far haven’t decided to use” in enforcing Washington’s ultimatum on Tehran. Responding sharply on social media platform X, the White House dismissed interpretations linking the remarks to nuclear escalation, insisting there was no such implication.
The clarification followed a series of US strikes targeting military installations on Iran’s Kharg Island early Tuesday. According to a US official speaking to Reuters on condition of anonymity, the attacks were limited in scope and did not impact oil infrastructure, a key concern given the island’s strategic significance in global energy markets.
The official added that some of the sites struck had been previously targeted, suggesting a continuation rather than an escalation of military operations. Speaking during a visit to Budapest, Vance reinforced that position, stating the strikes did not represent any shift in US strategy.
“We were going to strike some military targets on Kharg Island, and I believe we have done so,” Vance said, emphasising that Washington was deliberately avoiding energy and infrastructure targets for now.
He indicated that such restraint would remain in place unless Iran failed to respond to diplomatic overtures. “We’re not going to strike energy and infrastructure targets until the Iranians either make a proposal that we can get behind or don’t make a proposal,” he added.