Trump calls Iran conflict 'a little war' despite warnings of weapon shortages

Vice President J.D. Vance said he would not characterize the more than six-month U.S. conflict with Iran as a war, arguing that major combat operations had ended despite continued Iranian attacks and disruptions to commercial shipping. President Donald Trump described the campaign as an intermittent military conflict and “small potatoes,” while claiming the United States had prevented Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and secured the Strait of Hormuz. Vance declined to predict when the conflict would end, saying it depended on Iran stopping attacks on commercial vessels. At least 18 U.S. service members have reportedly been killed and hundreds injured, while more than 50,000 U.S. troops remain deployed across the Middle East. The conflict has raised oil and gasoline prices, strained weapons stocks and threatened Republicans ahead of the November midterm elections.