U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance has insisted that America is “not at war with Iran,” despite a dramatic escalation over the weekend in which U.S. forces joined Israel in launching strikes on three of Iran’s nuclear sites. The strikes, described by President Donald Trump as a “very successful attack,” have drawn fierce criticism both at home and abroad.
“We’re not at war with Iran, we’re at war with Iran’s nuclear program,” Vance said in an interview on NBC’s Meet the Press on Sunday. He repeated the position throughout the day, even as Tehran warned of severe consequences and called for an emergency UN Security Council meeting.
Iran’s UN ambassador, Amir Saeid Iravani, urged global condemnation, calling the strikes “heinous crimes” and demanding those responsible be held accountable.
President Trump, flanked by Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in a televised address Saturday night, warned Iran that any retaliation would prompt a swift and powerful U.S. response. “We will strike with speed and precision,” he declared.
The strikes have raised alarms across the U.S. security establishment. A National Terrorism Advisory issued by the Department of Homeland Security on Sunday described a “heightened threat environment,” citing risks of cyberattacks by Iranian-linked groups and possible retaliatory violence on U.S. soil. The bulletin noted Iran’s history of targeting American officials, referencing the 2020 assassination of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani by a U.S. drone strike ordered during Trump’s first term.
“There is concern Iran may seek revenge, either digitally or through physical plots,” the advisory stated. It also warned of threats against Jewish and pro-Israel targets within the U.S.
In Washington, the strikes have ignited a political firestorm. Several Republicans, including Senators Lindsey Graham and Marsha Blackburn, praised the action. “Peace can only be achieved through strength,” Blackburn said.
But opposition has surged on both sides of the aisle. Independent Senator Bernie Sanders denounced the strikes as “grossly unconstitutional,” arguing that Trump bypassed congressional authority. “Only Congress can declare war,” he told a rally in Oklahoma, where chants of “no more war” echoed.
Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and other progressive lawmakers went further, calling for Trump’s impeachment. “This is absolutely and clearly grounds for removal,” Ocasio-Cortez said.
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries condemned the move, accusing Trump of escalating tensions while putting U.S. troops in danger. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer demanded an immediate congressional briefing.
Republican Congressman Thomas Massie also questioned the legality of the strikes. “This military action was not constitutional,” he posted on social media, prompting Trump to lash out on his Truth Social platform, calling Massie “disrespectful to our great military.”
As global leaders urge restraint, eyes now turn to Tehran for its next move. Trump has warned that any response would be “a terrible mistake,” but Iran’s leadership has yet to signal whether it intends to retaliate directly or through proxies.