Vance: US will continue war 'a little while longer' to 'neuter' Iran — 'vast majority of projects accomplished'

US Vice President JD Vance, appearing on the 'Benny Show' podcast, made the clearest statement to date about US intent to wind down military operations against Iran. 'The president is going to keep at it for a little while longer to ensure that once we leave, we don't have to do this again for a very, very long time,' Vance said. He claimed the US had 'accomplished the vast majority of our military projects' and said 'one could even argue the objectives have actually been met already.' On the strategic goal: 'This country is threatening us in all these ways. They're still trying to build a nuclear weapon. We need to neuter them for a very, very long time, and that's the purpose.' On gas prices (which have risen due to Hormuz closure): 'A very temporary reaction to what is going to ultimately be a short term conflict. We're not interested in being in Iran a year down the road or two years down the road. We're taking care of business. We're going to be out of there soon, and gas prices are going to come back down.' The statement is significant for what it reveals: US operational objectives are largely met in Washington's view; the conflict will end in a 'short term' timeframe; and the goal is a lasting degradation of Iranian capability rather than indefinite occupation or regime change. Vance's framing implies a near-term pivot from kinetic operations to a verification and wind-down phase.