Vice President JD Vance refused to describe the ongoing U.S.-Iran conflict as a “war,” despite renewed military strikes and tensions in the region.

Vance argued that major combat operations ended weeks ago and characterized the recent violence as isolated flare-ups rather than an active war.

He declined to provide a timeline for when the conflict will end, saying its conclusion depends largely on Iran stopping attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

Vance also defended the administration’s military actions, saying U.S. operations had severely damaged Iran’s nuclear facilities and conventional military capabilities, The Hill has reported.

His comments come as the conflict enters its seventh month, with continued attacks, disruptions to shipping and rising energy prices creating growing political pressure on the Trump administration.