US Vice President JD Vance declines to offer timeline for end of Iran war

US Vice President JD Vance declined to provide a timeline for the end of the US-Israeli conflict with Iran, expressing skepticism about it being classified as a "war" despite recent flare-ups. Speaking at a White House briefing, Vance stated there was no active shooting and that major combat operations had concluded. He attributed ongoing issues to Iran's actions in the Strait of Hormuz, which he claimed were hindering commercial shipping. Vance also highlighted US efforts to mitigate global energy price impacts, including a deal for Venezuelan oil reserves, and credited President Trump's leadership. Regarding a reported US strike on a wedding party, Vance stated the military was investigating but expressed skepticism about Iranian government accounts. The conflict, which began on February 28, has resulted in significant casualties and economic disruption.

US Vice President JD Vance responded to reports of four deaths, including a child, at an Iranian wedding following an airstrike by stating, "sometimes things happen." The strike occurred in Kuhestak, southern Iran, and casualty figures were reported by the Iranian Red Crescent, an organization generally considered credible. Vance expressed skepticism of Iranian reporting and asserted that the US does not target civilians, though he acknowledged that "things happen" in conflict. He stated the US was investigating the incident and that the ongoing conflict with Iran, which has lasted seven months, was not currently considered a war by him. This statement drew criticism from some Democrats who argued it was "gaslighting" and that the situation constituted a war.

Iran targeted U.S. allies in the Gulf, firing drones at Kuwait and Bahrain on Wednesday, following overnight U.S. aerial bombardment of Iran. Iranian officials reported a U.S. strike hit a wedding party, killing at least five and wounding dozens. In response to U.S. strikes on Iranian rocket launchers in the Strait of Hormuz, Iran had previously fired missiles at American bases in Jordan, which were intercepted. Bahrain stated its air defense systems intercepted Iranian air attacks, while Kuwait reported a fire at a residential complex from an Iranian drone. Separately, a Saudi shipping company reported two sailors died in an attack on their vessel in the Strait of Hormuz on Monday. Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi in Cairo, and Pakistan stated it is engaged in mediation efforts between the U.S. and Iran.

The Iranian Red Crescent Society has requested the International Criminal Court (ICC) investigate a US missile strike that hit a wedding party in Kuhestak, Iran, on September 2, 2026. The attack killed at least four people, including two women and two children, and wounded 67, with the Red Crescent warning the death toll may rise. The humanitarian group stated the strike, which occurred in a civilian area, could constitute a war crime. US Central Command acknowledged awareness of the reports but denied attacking civilians. Iran's Foreign Ministry rejected this claim, citing past US civilian casualties in other conflicts. The strike occurred amid broader US attacks on Iranian coastal areas near the Strait of Hormuz. Iran's UN envoy urged the UN Security Council to condemn the attack.