Vance Warns Iran of Retaliation: ‘Catastrophic Mistake’

Trump and Vance before inauguration ceremonies in Capitol

Vice President JD Vance has both praised and defended U.S. military strikes targeting Iran's nuclear facilities, which specifically struck the Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan sites. President Donald Trump labeled the sites as part of Iran's destructive program and has claimed they were obliterated. Vance asserted that the United States' actions have greatly hindered Iran’s ability to develop a nuclear weapon.

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Vance said, "No military in the world has the training, the skills, and the equipment to do what these guys did last night. I know the president and I are both very proud of them, and I think what they did was accomplish a very core American national objective."

Governor DeWine listens as VP Vance speaks

Vance added, "I don't want to get into sensitive intelligence here, but we know that we set the Iranian nuclear program back substantially last night. Whether it's years or beyond that, we know it's going to be a very long time before Iran can even build a nuclear weapon if they want to."

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Vance has declined to share specific intelligence details but claimed the mission aimed to damage the Fordow site. Although Iranian officials argued the site was not significantly impacted, satellite images showed craters and possible collapsed entrances.

Vance listens as Trump addresses Congress

Vance stated, "I feel extremely confident, and I can say to the American people with great confidence that they are much further away from a nuclear program today than they were 24 hours ago."

Vance at CPAC conference in Maryland

Vance warned that further Iranian aggression would result in strong U.S. retaliation. He prefers a diplomatic approach and encouraged Iran to abandon all nuclear ambitions.

Vance at Conservative Political Action Conference

Vance said, "Iran cannot have a nuclear weapons program. The president's been very clear about this, and thanks to the bravery and competence and skill of our great pilots and everybody who supported this mission, we took a major step forward for that national objective last night."

Vance speaks to crowd at Vantage Plastics

Regarding potential retaliation, Vance stated, "My message to the Iranians is it would be the stupidest thing in the world. If you look at what happened last night, we had an incredibly targeted, precise surgical strike on the nuclear facilities that are the target of the American operation. Our national interest is for Iran to not get a nuclear weapon. Our strikes last night facilitated that national objective. If the Iranians want to enlarge this by attacking American troops, I think that would be a catastrophic mistake."

Usha Vance listens to husband JD Vance speak

Vance concluded, "There is no way that the United States is going to let Iran have a nuclear weapon. And so they really have to choose a pathway. Are they going to go down the path of continued war, of funding terrorism, of seeking a nuclear weapon? Or are they going to work with us to give up nuclear weapons permanently? If they're willing to choose the smart path, they're certainly going to find a willing partner in the United States to dismantle that nuclear weapons program."

Grace Hall covers U.S. politics & news for content partner Modern Newsstand LLC.