JD Vance says violence "has flared up" in spots but campaign against Iran is not a war

Vice President JD Vance said Thursday that the U.S.-Israeli campaign against Iran is not a war, arguing intense combat lasted only six weeks and no fighting is happening now. He acknowledged violence has spiked locally and said Iranians alone can say when ship attacks will stop. Vance spoke as the White House tries to ease election concerns over fuel prices by saying oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz have nearly recovered. Calm broke Sunday when U.S. raids began; Iran responded by attacking American bases in Kuwait and the UAE, calling it revenge for a missile strike on a wedding that killed four. Vance said Washington is investigating and distrusts Iranian reports. The six-month conflict has killed 18 U.S. troops and thousands in Iran and Lebanon.