U.S. Vice President JD Vance said on the 3rd (local time) that the United States will not engage with Iran unless it stops attacking merchant ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz.
According to Reuters and others, Vice President Vance said at a White House press briefing that day, regarding the possibility of talks with Iran, "The (Trump) president has made it very clear," adding, "We are not talking to them, and we will not talk unless they stop attacking merchant ships."
Vance emphasized that despite Iran's repeated attacks on merchant ships, crude shipments through the Strait of Hormuz have nearly returned to pre-conflict levels. "About 15 million barrels of crude moved through the Strait of Hormuz last night," he said, adding that shipments have "almost returned to the level before the conflict began."
He went on to say the United States has "many additional tools" it can use to pressure Iran going forward, citing economic, military and diplomatic pressure. However, he avoided specifics, saying which tools to use is for President Trump to decide.
When asked whether the confrontation with Iran would end before the midterm elections in November, he said, "I would not call this a war," drawing a line against labeling the current situation a "war."
He added, "Major combat operations are not currently underway and have not been for a considerable period," and "There is also no active shooting ongoing. That said, it is true that tensions have escalated in some areas."
Vance also said, "Asking when this situation will end is like asking when Iran will stop attacking ships," adding, "Frankly, I do not know the answer to that question. You'd have to ask Iran."
Regarding Iran's claim that dozens of casualties at a wedding hall in southern Iran on the 1st were caused by a U.S. airstrike, he said the matter is under investigation.
Vance, however, said, "Iranian state media have not conveyed what has happened in this conflict very accurately so far," expressing that he is "extremely skeptical" of reports that a U.S. strike caused casualties.
He then stressed the U.S. military's principle of not targeting civilians during combat, saying, "We are investigating this incident very thoroughly."