In a move that has reignited controversy over US military actions in the Middle East, Vice President JD Vance has defended the Trump administration’s latest airstrike on Iran, portraying it as a limited and “surgical” operation meant to degrade Tehran’s nuclear capabilities. Amid mounting concerns of another protracted conflict, Vance drew a sharp distinction between President Donald Trump’s leadership and the decisions of previous US administrations that led to decades-long wars in the region.

Speaking on NBC’s Meet the Press on June 22, Vance said the United States “is not at war with Iran” but rather targeting its nuclear program. “We’re at war with Iran’s nuclear ambitions,” he clarified, claiming that the overnight airstrike was a “very precise” mission designed to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. According to Vance, the goal is containment, not regime change.

“We have no interest in a protracted conflict. We have no interest in boots on the ground,” Vance said. “We understand the fatigue of the American people after 25 years of Middle East entanglements. This is different. This is about stopping a serious threat before it materializes.”

The vice president’s attempt to distance this strike from previous wars – notably the 2003 invasion of Iraq and the prolonged war in Afghanistan – came as criticism mounted from both domestic lawmakers and international observers. Many accused the Trump administration of bypassing congressional approval and escalating tensions in the region without a clear long-term strategy.

While Vance insisted that regime change is “not the........

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