JD Vance has faced backlash after appearing to dismiss reports that a US strike killed five people, including two children, at a wedding gathering in southern Iran.
When asked about whether a US strike was responsible, he said “sometimes things happen”.
He said: “I will say that the Iranian state media has not been a very good scribe about what’s happened in the conflict thus far, so I’m extremely sceptical of this.”
The toll was confirmed not by the Iranian government but by the Iranian Red Crescent, a member of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.
“What I can say with 100% confidence is that, unlike the [Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps] IRGC, the United States never targets civilians in combat,” Vance said. “We never will do that. We never have done that, and unfortunately, obviously, sometimes things happen.”
Meanwhile, president Donald Trump insisted he had done the “right thing” with the war.
It comes amid fears Trump is planning to extend Washington’s war on Iran, after The Wall Street Journal reported that the Pentagon was extending the presence of troops in the Middle East into next year.
Vance refuses to give a deadline to end US war on Iran
JD Vance has declined to give a timeline for ending the US war on Iran, while downplaying the conflict by saying there was no active shooting and major combat had lasted only about six weeks.
“I wouldn’t call it a war. Right now, there is no active shooting,” Vance said. He added: “I recognise there have been places where this has flared up.”
“When you ask, ‘When will this end?’, you’re asking me a question like: When will the Iranians stop shooting at ships?” Vance told reporters.
“I think the reality is, I don’t know the answer to that question. You’d have to ask the Iranians.”
His remarks come after days of intense fighting between the US and Iran.
Maroosha Muzaffar4 September 2026 08:00
Israel says economic pressure on Iran could push the regime to take ‘desperate steps’
Israel’s defence minister has warned that growing economic pressure could push Tehran to take more desperate measures.
“We see signs indicating that the heavy economic pressure they are under, and the fear of an uprising and the collapse of the regime, may push them to desperate steps,” Israel Katz said.
Earlier, Iran had claimed that it had the capability to manufacture more missile stockpiles and maintained enough in its war against the US“Initially, some believed that Iran had only a limited number of missiles and that its stockpiles would eventually be depleted as the war continued,” the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps spokesperson Brig Gen Hossein Mohebbi said.
“However, that assumption proved incorrect, as Iran’s missile capability has remained sustained and its missile production has continued.”
Maroosha Muzaffar4 September 2026 07:40
Trump rejects reports of US weapons stockpiles running low
Donald Trump has rejected reports that US military stockpiles of weapons are running dangerously low as the war with Iran enters its seventh month.
In a post on his Truth Social platform he wrote that the US was producing munitions at “levels never seen before” and has “far more than we could ever use”.
“For the treasonous SCUM that refuses to accurately report on our Military Operation in Iran, we have virtually unlimited amounts of Mid to High Grade Ammunition, far more than we could ever use for this, or for any other War (which is highly unlikely!), that could improbably take place,” Trump wrote.
“In addition, we are producing Munitions at levels never seen before. We are stockpiling and preparing for any contingency that could happen. We are taking them for ourselves, the U.S.A., rather than selling them to others, but the sales to Allies will soon again, begin. Also, please let it be known, that the Biden Administration gave far more Munitions away to Ukraine, at no cost to them, whatsoever, than we have used in Iran.”
Maroosha Muzaffar4 September 2026 07:20
Kuwait says their air defences intercepted ‘blatant Iranian aggression’
Iran fired missiles and drones towards Kuwait yesterday, with Kuwaiti air defences intercepting the attacks.
The Kuwait defence ministry wrote on X that their air defences intercepted missiles and drones during a “blatant Iranian aggression”.
Bahrain and Jordan also reported intercepting Iranian attacks.
Maroosha Muzaffar4 September 2026 07:00
Iran’s attacks on commercial shipping have ‘less effect day by day’ on global energy markets
JD Vance said Iran’s attacks on commercial ships were having “less effect day by day” on global energy markets and added that the US efforts to protect shipping were preventing a wider energy crisis.
“When will the Iranians shooting at ships stop having an effect on world energy markets? The answer is it has less effect day by day.”
He also chided allies for not doing enough to contribute to the war.
“What we’re doing right now is protecting commercial shipping in order to ensure that we don’t have a worldwide energy crisis.
“The only reason we don’t have an energy crisis is because of the leadership of the president (Trump) but also because of the fine work of our military.”
Maroosha Muzaffar4 September 2026 06:40
EU officially joins economic pressure campaign against Iran, Scott Bessent says
The US treasury secretary says the EU has joined America’s campaign to put pressure on Iran’s economy.
In a post on X, Scott Bessent wrote: “The European Union has officially joined Operation Economic Outcast and we appreciate their strong and early stance. The United States stands firm with our allies in ensuring the murderous Iranian regime cannot exploit the global financial system to fund its nuclear ambitions, weapons programs, and terror proxies.”
He added: “The world is sending a clear message to the Iranian regime: We will not stop until every remaining financial lifeline has been severed.”
Earlier, the EU said in a statement that it would “work closely with the United States and other G7 and international partners to maintain pressure on Iran and contribute to de-escalation and regional stability”.
Maroosha Muzaffar4 September 2026 06:20
Oil prices rise as US-Iran tensions fuel supply concerns
Oil prices rose on Friday as renewed hostilities between the US and Iran raised concerns over possible disruptions to energy supplies.
Brent crude futures climbed 15 cents, or 0.2 per cent, to $95.67 a barrel by 01:00 GMT, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude gained 26 cents, or 0.3 per cent, to $91.56.
Both benchmarks were on track for their strongest weekly gains since mid-July.
Brent has risen 7.1 per cent over the past week, while WTI is up 9.8 per cent, according to Reuters.
Maroosha Muzaffar4 September 2026 06:00
JD Vance faces backlash over response to alleged wedding gathering strike
JD Vance has faced backlash after appearing to dismiss reports that a US strike killed five people, including two children, at a wedding gathering in southern Iran.
When asked about whether a US strike was responsible, he said “sometimes things happen”.
He said: “I will say that the Iranian state media has not been a very good scribe about what’s happened in the conflict thus far, so I’m extremely sceptical of this.”
The toll was confirmed not by the Iranian government but by the Iranian Red Crescent, a member of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.
“What I can say with 100% confidence is that, unlike the [Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps] IRGC, the United States never targets civilians in combat,” Vance said.
“We never will do that. We never have done that, and unfortunately, obviously, sometimes things happen.”
Congressman Ro Khanna, a Democrat from California, posted on X: “It’s unbelievable gaslighting.“This is war,” he added.
“You know who understands it’s a war? Donald Trump. He claims that we’re winning the war.”
US Congresswoman says ‘can’t continue to turn a blind eye on Trump and Hegseth’s war crimes’ in Iran
US Congresswoman Delia Ramirez has criticised US military action in Iran and Palestine, saying American bombs are killing civilians.
She urged Congress to pass the “Block the Bombs Act” and accused the Trump administration of war crimes.
Responding to the Iranian claim that US strikes killed at least five people at a wedding party, she wrote on X: “A day that should be filled with celebrations for a couple’s new beginning turned into devastation. From Palestine to Iran, our bombs are killing innocent women and children.
“Congress can’t continue to turn a blind eye on Trump and Hegseth’s war crimes. The time to hold warmongers accountable is now. Congress must pass Block the Bombs Act, reclaim our power, and put an end to this endless war.”
Maroosha Muzaffar4 September 2026 05:20
Seoul weighing military measures for Strait of Hormuz navigation
South Korea is considering military options to help keep the Strait of Hormuz open, as Seoul pushes back against claims that it has offered no assistance over navigation through the key waterway.
A presidential Blue House official also said security talks between South Korea and the US were “not currently progressing”.
Several South Korean media outlets, including JTBC and MBC, reported late on Thursday that Seoul was preparing to deploy military assets by the end of the year and could seek parliamentary approval as early as this month.
Reuters reported that the South Korean president Lee Jae Myung could discuss options for supporting navigation through the Strait of Hormuz with French president Emmanuel Macron next week.
The talks come after Donald Trump claimed Seoul had declined to help the US in its war against Iran, prompting him to scale back joint military exercises with South Korea.
Maroosha Muzaffar4 September 2026 05:00NewerOlder