US Vice President JD Vance said Thursday that preventing a nuclear Iran was Washington’s second priority, with the first being to “keep oil and gasoline cheap for Americans.”

“That’s goal number one,” Vance told told Fox News. “And then, obviously, goal number two is ensure that Iran never gets a nuclear weapon.”

“I feel confident we’re accomplishing both of those goals, but it’s inherently an unpredictable thing, because the Iranians themselves are unpredictable, and they sometimes don’t honor the commitments they’ve made to us,” he added.

Asked on Fox News what the endgame with Iran looks like, Vance replied: “The thing I can say with confidence is I think this ends with the United States in a stronger position, with Iran not having a nuclear weapon, and with the Strait of Hormuz returned to a place where oil and gas prices are stable for the American people.”

“Sometimes we’re focused on the energy piece of it because we want Americans to be able to afford the price of oil and gas. Sometimes we’re obviously focused on the military nature of it. Sometimes we’re focused on the nuclear program,” said Vance.

The Strait of Hormuz had carried about a fifth of the world’s commercial oil shipments until the US and Israel launched the war on Iran on February 28, with the stated goal of destroying Iran’s nuclear program. Iran blockaded the waterway since early in the war, sparking a global rise in energy prices. The US responded in April with its own blockade on Iran-linked shipping.

Vance: That is goal number 1, keep oil and gas cheap for Americans all over our country. Goal number 2 is to ensure Iran never gets a nuclear weapon. I feel confident we are accomplishing both of those goals. pic.twitter.com/5terG0opqs — Acyn (@Acyn) August 13, 2026

Vance: That is goal number 1, keep oil and gas cheap for Americans all over our country. Goal number 2 is to ensure Iran never gets a nuclear weapon. I feel confident we are accomplishing both of those goals. pic.twitter.com/5terG0opqs

— Acyn (@Acyn) August 13, 2026

Bessent, Hegseth pledge continued blockade, despite reported sailor burnout

Vance’s comments came as other members of US President Donald Trump’s cabinet said Washington would punish Tehran with economic measures “never seen before,” and could keep blockading the Strait of Hormuz indefinitely, despite a planned military personnel swap there amid reports of sailor burnout.

On Newsmax, US Treasury Secretary said: “Watch this space for more announcements coming next week because we are going to apply measures like have never been seen in the history of economic isolation on a country.”

“It will be a combination of economic isolation like the world has never seen before, and the continued blockade in the Strait of Hormuz that will keep anything from going in or out of the Iranian ports,” Bessent........

© The Times of Israel