Vance rules out ‘forever war’ as US reportedly reinforces military presence near Iran

US Vice President JD Vance has rejected the possibility of Washington becoming involved in another prolonged conflict with Iran, saying President Donald Trump remains committed to achieving the administration’s objectives before shifting attention to other priorities.

In an interview with Fox News on Thursday, Vance said there was still work to be done but insisted that Trump would not allow the situation to turn into an endless war.

He distinguished between opposing unnecessary foreign military interventions and arguing that the United States should never use its military. Vance said the administration would accomplish its goals and then focus on other matters.

His remarks came as reports emerged of increased US military activity in the Middle East amid preparations for a possible strike against Iran.

Israeli public broadcaster KAN reported that 10 US military cargo aircraft had arrived at Ovda and Nevatim air bases in southern Israel’s Negev region. Additional American military aircraft were also reportedly sent to bases in Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

According to the broadcaster, the aircraft had departed from Fort Bliss in Texas, which hosts major US air defence facilities. However, the cargo they were carrying was not immediately known.

There was no immediate confirmation from Washington of the reported deployments. It also remained unclear whether the United States had made any decision to launch military action against Iran.

An Israeli official told KAN that Washington and Tel Aviv were coordinating their military preparations. The official said both countries were preparing for different possible decisions by Trump, although no final decision had been made.

Earlier, KAN reported that Washington had informed Gulf countries about the possibility of a limited military campaign against Iran. The broadcaster also reported that the US had moved a Patriot missile defence system from Texas to reinforce air defences in the Gulf.

The report further claimed that American personnel stationed at regional bases had been instructed to leave as a precaution against possible escalation. US forces were also reportedly replenishing weapons supplies, with another aircraft carrier and a Marine Corps unit expected to arrive in November.

These reinforcements would add to around 20 US warships already operating in the Middle East, according to the report.

Meanwhile, the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) centre reported an incident involving a vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, northeast of Oman’s Khasab area.

The agency initially said a vessel travelling out of the strait had caught fire, with the cause unknown at the time.

In a subsequent update, UKMTO said a verified report indicated that the crew were safe and there had been no environmental impact.

According to the agency, a small boat approached the tanker from its port side and attached two explosive devices to its hull above the waterline. The resulting blasts caused a fire in the engine room and temporarily disabled the vessel.

The fire was later extinguished, and the tanker continued towards its next port of call.

UKMTO advised vessels operating in the area to remain cautious and report suspicious activity as investigations into the incident continued.