Vice President JD Vance declared Friday that the United States wins “either way” in its standoff with Iran, citing the destruction of Tehran's nuclear program and what he described as the country's broader diminishment as a regional power.
Vance made the claim on Bill Maher's HBO program. He argued the US holds all the cards in any negotiation, whether Iran comes to the table or not.
Hours after the broadcast, military strikes were exchanged in the Strait of Hormuz, the critical waterway through which roughly a fifth of global oil supply passes.
The timing undercut the administration's framing of a situation firmly under control. No American casualties were confirmed by press time.
Vance did not specify what conditions would constitute a final resolution or trigger further escalation. The administration has not set a public ceasefire deadline.
The Strait of Hormuz remains an active conflict zone. Congressional leaders have scheduled classified briefings for early next week, sources told the Wail, with a broader Senate floor debate on war powers authority expected by month's end.