Vance Rejects ‘War’ Label As Trump Faces Iran Conflict Pressure Ahead Of US Midterms

US Vice President JD Vance has rejected describing the six-month-old US conflict with Iran as a “war”, as the Trump administration faces growing political and economic pressure with November’s congressional elections approaching.

Asked whether the fighting could end before the November 3 midterm elections, Vance avoided giving a timeline, saying he did not want to create an “artificial” deadline. He argued that there was currently no active shooting, even as Iran continued retaliatory attacks against US allies in the Gulf.

Vance said the United States had a responsibility to carry out its latest strikes because Iran continued targeting commercial vessels travelling through the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial global energy route.

The administration’s cautious language reflects the political challenge facing President Donald Trump, whose White House had initially suggested the military campaign would last only weeks. The prolonged conflict has instead contributed to higher oil prices and inflation, putting additional pressure on American consumers.

Brent crude was trading above USD 95 a barrel on Thursday, compared with around USD 72 before the conflict began. Trump and his officials have maintained that US naval forces are helping restore oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz, which previously carried roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil supply.

Vance said the US Navy escorted about 15 million barrels of oil through the strait on Wednesday. However, shipping traffic remains far below pre-conflict levels. Lloyd’s List Intelligence recorded just 102 transits last week, compared with more than 130 vessels a day before the fighting began.

Trump has repeatedly sought to calm markets by signalling diplomatic progress or backing away from threatened military escalation. Analysts say the administration is now trying to maintain pressure on Iran without triggering a wider conflict or making concessions that could be portrayed as a retreat.

The fighting has also raised questions over US military casualties after several fallen and wounded service members were reclassified under “Overseas Operations” rather than being included in earlier war casualty figures.

Iran, meanwhile, has refused to yield despite the damage caused by US and Israeli strikes. Iranian officials have estimated USD 270 billion in direct and indirect losses, while Tehran continues to retain leverage through its ability to disrupt shipping in the Gulf.

With the midterms approaching, analysts believe Trump is likely to maintain a delicate middle ground, avoiding a major escalation while resisting any agreement that could allow Iran to regain significant control over the Strait of Hormuz.