US-Iran war news LIVE: US Vice President JD Vance on Thursday dismissed the use of the word “war” to describe the ongoing fighting between the United States and Iran as he steered clear of predicting that the six-month-old conflict would be over by November’s midterm elections. When asked whether the fighting could be wrapped up before the upcoming midterms in November, Vance said, “I wouldn’t call it a war,” and added, “Right now, there is no active shooting.” His remarks come nearly a week after Washington launched another attack on Tehran, targeting the Lakar Island, with Tehran retaliating and attacking US forces stationed in the Middle East.
‘All options against Iran on the table, including covert pressure’: Vance
Vance on Thursday (local time) said that US President Donald Trump’s administration has a series of options available at its disposal to deal with Tehran, including economic, military, diplomatic, and covert measures, as tensions between the two sides continue to escalate after Washington carried out a fresh round of strikes earlier this week. He said, “There are a lot of additional tools that we have at our disposal. Some of those the President will use and some of them he won’t,” and added, “But everything that could happen is on the table. Economic pressure, military pressure, diplomatic pressure, covert pressure. Of course these are tools in the President’s toolkit.”
Iran strikes US targets as Washington says it is probing wedding attack
Tehran on Thursday said that it targeted the US military bases in Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), vowing to avenge a wedding attack that it blamed on Washington, as Vance said the strike was being probed. Kuwait’s army said it intercepted a missile and drone attack from the Islamic Republic, with the latter reporting that it struck US assets at the Ahmad al-Jaber Air Base “with missiles and drones”. The strikes came after the Iranian Red Crescent said a missile attack on a wedding in the Iranian coastal town of Kuhestak killed four people on Tuesday night, including a child, and wounded more than 50.
South Korea prepares military deployment in Hormuz: Report
South Korea is reportedly preparing to deploy military assets to support freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and aims to dispatch them before the end of the year, Reuters reported, citing government sources. The government was considering options including sending a maritime patrol aircraft, a logistics support vessel or a mine detection and clearance unit, and had been discussing the scale and nature of a potential contribution with countries including the United States, Britain and France.
Stay tuned to this LIVE blog for all the latest updates on the US-Iran war.
Key Events
US-Iran war news LIVE: South Korea prepares military deployment in Hormuz
South Korea is reportedly preparing to deploy military assets to support freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and aims to dispatch them before the end of the year, Reuters reported, citing government sources. The government was considering options including sending a maritime patrol aircraft, a logistics support vessel or a mine detection and clearance unit, and had been discussing the scale and nature of a potential contribution with countries including the United States, Britain and France.
US-Iran war news LIVE: Iran strikes US targets as Washington says it is probing wedding attack
Tehran on Thursday said that it targeted the US military bases in Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), vowing to avenge a wedding attack that it blamed on Washington, as Vance said the strike was being probed. Kuwait’s army said it intercepted a missile and drone attack from the Islamic Republic, with the latter reporting that it struck US assets at the Ahmad al-Jaber Air Base “with missiles and drones”.
US-Iran war news LIVE: ‘All options against Iran on the table, including covert pressure’, says Vance
Vance on Thursday (local time) said that US President Donald Trump’s administration has a series of options available at its disposal to deal with Tehran, including economic, military, diplomatic, and covert measures, as tensions between the two sides continue to escalate after Washington carried out a fresh round of strikes earlier this week. He said, “There are a lot of additional tools that we have at our disposal. Some of those the President will use and some of them he won’t.”
US-Iran war news LIVE: Vance downplays US-Iran conflict, rejects the use of the word ‘war’ as midterm nears
US Vice President JD Vance on Thursday dismissed the use of the word “war” to describe the ongoing fighting between the United States and Iran as he steered clear of predicting that the six-month-old conflict would be over by November’s midterm elections. When asked whether the fighting could be wrapped up before the upcoming midterms in November, Vance said, “I wouldn’t call it a war,” and added, “Right now, there is no active shooting.”
About the Author
Swati Gandhi is a digital journalist with over four years of experience, specialising in international and geopolitical issues. Her work focuses on foreign policy, global power shifts, and the political and economic forces shaping international relations, with a particular emphasis on how global developments affect India. She approaches journalism with a strong belief in context-driven reporting, aiming to break down complex global events into clear, accessible narratives for a wide readership.<br><br>
Previously, Swati has worked at Business Standard, where she covered a range of beats including national affairs, politics, and business. This diverse newsroom experience helped her build a strong grounding in reporting, while also strengthening her ability to work across both breaking news and in-depth explanatory stories. Covering multiple beats early in her career has helped her be informed about her current work, allowing her to connect domestic developments with wider international trends.<br><br>
At Live Mint, she focuses on international and geopolitical issues through a business and economic lens, examining how global political developments, foreign policy decisions, and power shifts impact markets, industries, and India’s strategic and economic interests.<br><br>
She holds a Bachelor’s degree in English (Honours) from the University of Delhi and a Master’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University. Her academic training has shaped her emphasis on precision, analytical rigour, and clarity in writing. Her interests include global political economy and the intersection of geopolitics with business.<br><br>
Outside work, Swati focuses on exploring her passion and love for food. From fancy cafes to street spots, Swati explores food like a true foodie.
