Iran war is not a war, US VP Vance says
US Vice President JD Vance said he would not categorize the conflict with Iran as a war, citing the absence of active shooting. He noted that major combat operations lasted six weeks after the war started on February 28, and that oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz are nearly back to pre-war levels. Vance also said the United States would not reopen talks with Iran until it ends attacks on commercial shipping.
Why it matters: This statement reflects the administration's effort to manage the political fallout of a prolonged conflict, a key concern in the briefing's theme of geopolitical risk and energy markets.