Trump calls Iran conflict 'small potatoes' as war enters seventh month

President Donald Trump told reporters that the United States' military actions against Iran amount to "small potatoes," comparing the strikes to earlier operations such as the January 3 mission to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. He noted that the U.S. lost no personnel in Venezuela but 18 service members in the current conflict, and said the U.S. is not "fighting right now," adding that it is conducting "intermittent strikes" and controlling the Hormuz Strait.

"It’s not a big thing," Trump said, emphasizing that the U.S. is taking out oil facilities and maintaining strong control of the strait.

Vice President JD Vance, speaking at a White House briefing the day before, said he would not call the situation a war, noting that major combat operations had lasted only six weeks and that there was currently no active shooting, though he acknowledged isolated flare-ups.

"I wouldn’t call it a war. Right now, there is no active shooting," Vance said.

Trump echoed Vance’s assessment, describing the hostilities as a "military conflict" and an "excursion" intended to keep the United States out of a full-scale war. Since the conflict began on Feb. 28, Trump has used a range of diminutive terms for the fighting, including "little skirmish" and "little detour."

Congressional opposition has grown, with both chambers passing a symbolic war-powers resolution in June urging the president to seek legislative approval for the campaign. Public opinion also remains unfavorable; a Reuters-Ipsos poll found that nearly six in ten U.S. adults disapproved of the strikes.

The conflict has contributed to higher global energy prices, with U.S. gasoline averaging $4.15 per gallon, according to the American Automobile Association. The administration has signaled continued economic pressure on Iran, announcing new sanctions and hinting at possible future strikes on the Pickaxe Mountain site near the Natanz enrichment facility.