Over the weekend, the world watched a historic and highly strategic U.S. military operation unfold—and Vice President J.D. Vance didn’t hold back in praising the team behind it.
Appearing on NBC’s Meet the Press Sunday morning, Vance detailed the military’s daring strike on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, calling it “an incredible operation” and “a testament to American power and precision.”
B-2 Bombers Hit Tiny Target from Half a World Away
What stunned many wasn’t just the scale of the mission—but the accuracy.
Vance shared that American pilots flew B-2 stealth bombers from Missouri all the way to Iran and back without ever touching down.
“They hit a target the size of a washing machine,” he said, “and then came home safely.
That’s something we should all be proud of—no matter your politics.”
The strike involved seven B-2s and over 125 U.S. aircraft in total, including fighter escorts and aerial refueling tankers.
According to the Pentagon, this was all done mid-air—no stops, no landings, and no boots on the ground.
Operation Midnight Hammer Hits Without Warning
The strike, dubbed Operation Midnight Hammer, was so stealthy that even global surveillance didn’t detect it.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth revealed that the U.S. used complex deception techniques to keep the operation under wraps.
“We flew the bombers in and out—and no one in the world knew,” he said.
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen. Dan Caine added that Iran didn’t manage to launch a single plane in response, and not one U.S. aircraft took enemy fire.
“We think we’ve significantly set back their nuclear capabilities,” he said.
No Troops, No Civilians Targeted
Despite the intensity of the strike, Vance and defense officials emphasized that the mission was carefully designed to avoid civilian casualties and direct confrontation with Iranian forces.
“We’re not at war with Iran,” Vance clarified. “We’re at war with their nuclear program.”
Iran’s Nuclear Ambitions “Obliterated”
Defense Secretary Hegseth went even further, confidently claiming that Iran’s ambitions of building a nuclear arsenal had been “obliterated” by the raid.
Still, officials cautioned that it’s too soon to fully assess the long-term damage to Iran’s nuclear facilities.
When pressed on how much the strike had delayed Iran’s nuclear progress, Vance declined to go into specifics, citing intelligence sensitivities.
But he did say, “We’ve bought time—and we did it without risking the lives of American troops.”
Vance Rejects Claims of Escalation
When asked directly whether the United States is now at war with Iran, Vance pushed back.
“Absolutely not,” he responded. “This isn’t a war with Iran—it’s about stopping a nuclear threat before it becomes a global crisis.”
He went on to accuse Iran of dragging its feet in nuclear negotiations to buy time for weapons development.
“They never negotiated in good faith,” he said. “The diplomacy was never real on their end.”
Trump, Rubio Signal Tough but Open Approach
President Trump addressed the nation Saturday evening, flanked by Vance, calling the mission a complete success.
Meanwhile, Secretary of State Marco Rubio took a firmer line on Fox News, warning that if Iran continues its nuclear pursuit, it could be the end of the regime.
“If they go all-in on nukes, they’re playing a very dangerous game,” Rubio warned.
Strait of Hormuz Tensions Loom
Vance also issued a stern warning to Tehran: don’t even think about closing the Strait of Hormuz.
With roughly 25% of the world’s oil passing through it, the strait is a global economic artery.
“Cutting it off would be suicidal for Iran,” he said, suggesting it would provoke a strong international response.
Diplomacy Still on the Table
Despite the bold military action, Vance reiterated that the U.S. is still open to a diplomatic path. “The president wants to get back to the table,” he insisted.
“We want a deal that keeps nuclear weapons out of Iran—plain and simple.”