“At War with Iran’s Nuclear Program,” Not Iran: Vance Clarifies US Stance

Vice President Vance clarified the Trump administration’s stance on the recent precision strike against Iranian nuclear sites, stating on “Meet The Press” that the U.S. is “at war with Iran’s nuclear program,” not the nation of Iran itself. This comes as the administration defends “Operation Midnight Hammer,” a massive B-2 bomber strike on Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan, carried out Saturday without prior congressional approval. Secretary of State Marco Rubio echoed this sentiment on “Face The Nation,” emphasizing the limited and targeted nature of the engagement, aimed at disrupting nuclear weaponization.
Rubio explicitly stated the strike was “designed to degrade and/or destroy three nuclear sites related to their nuclear weaponization ambitions,” denying it was a “regime change move.” Vance, while acknowledging public fatigue with Middle East conflicts, affirmed the President’s “clear authority” to prevent WMD proliferation, promising a swift resolution.
However, the lack of transparency and congressional input has fueled bipartisan criticism. Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY), co-author of a War Powers Resolution, contended on “Face The Nation” that “no imminent threat” justified bypassing Congress, criticizing lawmakers for not addressing the issue.
Despite Massie’s minority view in his party, House Speaker Mike Johnson defended Trump, citing an “imminent danger” that justified immediate action and claiming congressional awareness of the urgency. He also maintained Trump’s respect for Article I. Nevertheless, Democrats were reportedly kept in the dark until U.S. forces left Iranian airspace. Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) decried the move on CBS, highlighting increased risks for American troops and stating the “massive set of Tomahawk missiles and B-2 bombers” clearly constituted “hostilities” requiring congressional authorization. Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) echoed this, emphasizing the increased danger to forces without an “imminent threat.”