US Vice President JD Vance on Thursday said there is “no chance” that any US military strike on Iran would drag the country into a long, drawn-out war.In an interview with The Washington Post, Vance said President Donald Trump could choose between military action “to ensure Iran isn’t going to get a nuclear weapon” or pursuing diplomacy. “The idea that we’re going to be in a Middle Eastern war for years with no end in sight — there is no chance that will happen,” he said.Vance also said that both he and Trump remain skeptical of foreign military interventions. “We all prefer the diplomatic option,” he added.He cited last year’s airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities and the January capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro as examples of “very clearly defined” military campaigns. Vance, a 41-year-old Marine veteran who served in the Iraq War, has previously said from the Senate floor that he had been “lied to” about the reasons for the US involvement in Iraq. “I still see myself as a skeptic of foreign military interventions,” he said. “But it really depends on what the Iranians do and what they say.”
US orders nonessential staff to leave Israel
The US State Department has authorised voluntary departure of nonessential personnel and their families from Israel, citing safety risks amid rising tensions. Similar guidance was issued earlier for staff in Lebanon.US citizens were urged to “consider leaving Israel while commercial flights are available.” Ambassador Mike Huckabee told embassy staff to “do so TODAY” to avoid shortages in flights.The US has also deployed more than a dozen warships to the region, including USS Abraham Lincoln and USS Gerald R. Ford, marking its largest Middle East presence since before the 2003 Iraq War.
US‑Iran Geneva Talks end without breakthrough
Diplomatic talks between the United States and Iran ended on Thursday in Geneva without a breakthrough that could avert potential US military action over Tehran’s nuclear programme.Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr al‑Busaidi, who is mediating the negotiations, said the session concluded on Thursday after “significant progress” but no final agreement was reached. He added that consultations would take place in the respective capitals, and technical‑level discussions are expected next week in Vienna.While both sides expressed cautious optimism about the tone of the talks, core disagreements remain, particularly over Iran’s uranium enrichment and sanctions relief, leaving the threat of escalation unresolved. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi described the negotiations as more serious and prolonged than earlier rounds, but acknowledged that fundamental differences persist.
