Washington, D.C. — U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance has signaled that President Donald Trump may take additional steps to prevent Iran from enriching uranium, raising the prospect of further escalation in the ongoing conflict between Tehran and Washington’s ally, Israel.
In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), Vance emphasized that Trump is “only interested in using the American military to accomplish the American people’s goals,” but added that the president “may decide he needs to take further action to end Iranian enrichment.” He clarified that any such decision “ultimately belongs to the president.”
Less than an hour after Vance’s comments, Trump took to Truth Social, calling for Iran’s “UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER” and referring to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as an “easy target.”
Trump also touted U.S. military support for Israel, which has claimed to have achieved air superiority over Tehran, thanks in part to American naval and aerial defense systems. U.S. officials say that Washington has maintained a defensive posture in the conflict, focusing on intercepting Iranian missile and drone attacks using American naval vessels in the Mediterranean.
Risk of Escalation
Analysts believe that if the U.S. were to shift to a direct offensive role, one potential scenario could include the deployment of B-2 stealth bombers from Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean to target Iranian nuclear facilities.
A likely focus would be Fordow, a heavily fortified uranium enrichment plant near Qom, buried beneath mountains and protected by thick layers of reinforced concrete. The facility has long been viewed by Western intelligence as a critical node in Iran’s potential nuclear weapons pathway.
Global Reactions and Diplomatic Concerns
French President Emmanuel Macron has warned against pushing for regime change in Iran, calling it the “biggest error” that could lead to widespread instability in the region. Macron urged caution and diplomacy to avoid fueling further chaos in the Middle East.
According to diplomats familiar with backchannel communications, Iran has stated it will only consider returning to the negotiation table to discuss its nuclear program if Israel halts its bombing campaign. Since the start of hostilities on Friday, Israel has conducted multiple airstrikes across Iranian territory, prompting Iranian retaliatory missile barrages that have reached deep into Israeli cities.
Background
The remarks from Vance and Trump come amid rapidly rising hostilities between Iran and Israel, with the United States now increasingly entangled in the confrontation. The situation has sparked concerns among U.S. allies about a wider regional conflict and the potential collapse of any remaining diplomatic frameworks surrounding Iran’s nuclear program.
With both sides sustaining casualties and rhetoric escalating, observers fear that the situation could spiral into direct U.S. military involvement — a move that would mark a significant shift in the Biden-era policy of containment and limited engagement in the Middle East.
