Vance Says US Probing Reported Airstrike on Iranian Wedding, Downplays Conflict as 'Not a War'

Vice President JD Vance said Thursday that the United States is investigating reports of an airstrike that hit a wedding celebration in Iran. Speaking from the White House briefing room, Vance said he had been briefed on the incident and that the military is looking into it "very fully."

Iranian state media reported that a missile strike struck a home where dozens had gathered for a wedding, initially killing four people. State television later said an injured person had died, raising the toll to five.

Vance asserted that the US does not target civilians in combat, but acknowledged that "sometimes things happen." He added that the investigation reflects the military's commitment to learning from mistakes. The US Central Command has also confirmed it is looking into the reports.

Separately, Vance pushed back against describing the ongoing confrontation with Iran as a war. "I wouldn't call it a war right now," he said, noting there is "no active shooting." He claimed that major combat operations lasted about six weeks and destroyed much of Iran's military capability. However, he acknowledged that Iran continues to fire at ships in the Strait of Hormuz, requiring the US to protect global shipping lanes.