U.S. Vice President JD Vance defended the Trump administration's Iran strategy on Wednesday, saying diplomacy, economic pressure, and military force are being combined to prevent Tehran from acquiring a nuclear weapon while ruling out a ground invasion.
Vance claimed some Israeli officials are manipulating American public opinion to prolong the conflict indefinitely, speaking on The Joe Rogan Experience released July 15. Brad Parscale denied running an online influence campaign for Israel. Vance said a memorandum of understanding with Iran aimed to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and establish a framework for nuclear negotiations, noting enough oil is moving through the strait to prevent a global energy crisis.
The U.S. and Israel have been jointly waging war against Iran since late February 2026. CENTCOM launched strikes against Iran on July 8, citing Iranian actions against commercial shipping. Iran responded by attacking U.S. bases across the Middle East and announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz until American intervention ends. President Donald Trump declared the U.S. would guard the strait and maintain a naval blockade on Iranian ports.