US Vice President JD Vance has rejected describing the ongoing conflict with Iran as a “war,” despite renewed military exchanges between both countries. Speaking at the White House, Vance said there was currently no active shooting and declined to predict when the six-month-old conflict would end, including whether it would be over before the November 3 congressional elections.

His comments came as Iran continued retaliatory attacks on US allies, including Kuwait, following recent US strikes. Vance defended the American military action, saying the US had a responsibility to respond to Iran’s attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil route.

The conflict has also pushed up energy prices, with Brent crude trading above $95 a barrel, compared with about $72 before the fighting began. The Trump administration says the US Navy has helped restore oil shipments through the Strait, but independent shipping data shows traffic remains significantly below prewar levels.

President Donald Trump is combining military pressure with economic measures against Iran while seeking to prevent further disruption to global oil markets. Analysts say the administration appears to be avoiding both a major escalation and significant concessions to Tehran as the November elections approach.