US Vice President Vance Dismisses Iran Wedding Deaths as Unverified, Says US Never Targets Civilians

Vice President JD Vance told reporters on Thursday that he was "extremely skeptical" of Iranian state media reports claiming a US strike killed four people, including a child, at a wedding in the town of Kuhestak, southern Iran. He said the United States never targets civilians and that "sometimes things happen," while noting that the US was investigating the incident.

The casualty figures were provided by the Iranian Red Crescent, an independent humanitarian organization, which said shrapnel from a US missile strike hit the residential home where the celebration was taking place, killing four and wounding more than 50. Vance declined to confirm the report, stating that Iranian state media had not been reliable in covering the conflict.

He also emphasized that the ongoing confrontation between the United States and Iran, now in its seventh month and responsible for the deaths of 18 US service members, does not constitute a war. The remarks drew criticism from Democratic lawmakers, with Congressman Ro Khanna calling the comments "unbelievable gaslighting" and asserting that the situation is indeed a war.

Earlier that day, President Donald Trump posted on social media that the United States possessed "virtually unlimited" mid- to high-grade munitions and labeled journalists reporting on Pentagon ammunition shortages as "treasonous SCUM." The broader US-Iran conflict continues with recent exchanges of fire and no clear path to a lasting cease-fire.