New York: US was not at war with Iran but only with its nuclear programme, leaving the door open for diplomacy, said US Vice-President JD Vance. President Donald Trump was certain to respond if Tehran was interested in a peaceful settlement.

JD Vance in his chitchat with the reporters said that we’re not at war with Iran. We’re at war with Iran’s nuclear programme.

Speaking on the morning after Operation Midnight Hammer attacking Tehran’s three nuclear facilities, I think the President took decisive action to destroy that programme last night, he said the news agency. He ruled out trying to topple the Iranian Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

We don’t want to achieve regime change, he said. Perhaps they should follow President Trump’s lead and give peace a chance, he added. He was ambivalent about the extent of the destruction of the three nuclear facilities at Isfahan, Natanz and Fordow, which Trump said on Sunday night had been completely and totally obliterated.