US “Not Seeking Another Middle East War,” Says VP Vance Amid Iran Strike Fallout

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Vice President JD Vance has attempted to ease growing unease at home and abroad following Washington’s recent airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, insisting that the United States is not sliding into another prolonged military engagement in the Middle East.

“We are not interested in protracted conflicts in the Middle East,” Vance said in an interview with ABC News on Sunday, as global alarm grows over the potential fallout from U.S.-led strikes on key Iranian sites—actions carried out in tandem with Israeli forces.

The vice president defended the strikes as a “narrow and limited” operation, claiming they were designed to cripple Iran’s nuclear program without dragging the U.S. into another open-ended war. “This was a focused military response. Not an escalation,” he emphasized.

Still, critics—including many from within President Donald Trump’s own MAGA-aligned base—have expressed concern that the strikes signal a shift away from Trump’s previously non-interventionist promises. During his 2024 campaign and first presidential term, Trump frequently criticized endless wars and vowed to keep the U.S. out of Middle East entanglements.

Vance pushed back on those concerns, stating, “The president, more than anybody, is worried about protracted military conflicts. That is not what we’re getting ourselves involved in.”

He added that the administration remains committed to a policy of “peace through strength,” arguing that military pressure is the only path to preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. “You can’t be weak,” he said. “You can’t sit there and allow the Iranians to achieve a nuclear weapon.”

Vance’s remarks come amid heightened tensions across the region and warnings from countries like Turkey and South Africa, who fear that U.S.-Israeli military actions could ignite a wider regional—or even global—conflict. Observers note that while Washington’s rhetoric frames the strikes as defensive, the long-term consequences of targeting Iran’s nuclear infrastructure remain deeply uncertain.

For now, the White House appears intent on framing the offensive as part of a broader strategy to prevent conflict. “The goal is peace,” Vance said. “But peace requires strength. And we’re willing to act when needed.”

As the world watches closely, many in the Global South question whether this is truly a move toward peace—or the beginning of yet another cycle of violence in a region long destabilized by foreign interventions.


By WafricNews Desk.