Vice President JD Vance said Thursday he is "extremely skeptical" of reports that a U.S. missile struck a home in southern Iran where people were celebrating a wedding earlier this week. The incident occurred Tuesday in Kuhestak, a town in Sirik county along the Strait of Hormuz. During a White House press briefing, Vance indicated the U.S. is currently investigating the allegations but noted he had no information confirming the event one way or the other.
Reports of the strike originated from the Iranian Red Crescent Society, which stated at least five people were killed and more than 60 others were injured. The organization reported that shrapnel from a U.S. missile hit a residential home where a wedding was taking place. The New York Times reported Wednesday that the missile was fired by the U.S. military during attacks on Iranian military targets in the area. U.S. Central Command confirmed it conducted strikes on Tuesday against Iranian air defense sites, radar systems, and maritime facilities.
Vance questioned the reliability of the reports, citing skepticism toward Iranian state media. He stated that "the United States never targets civilians in combat" but added that "unfortunately, obviously, sometimes things happen." The Vice President also disputed characterizations of the ongoing conflict as a "war," stating there is "no active shooting" currently and that major combat operations ended six weeks prior. Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) criticized Vance's comments, calling the conflict a war and noting that President Trump has described the situation in similar terms.
This incident affects civilians in southern Iran and U.S. service members currently deployed in the region. The Iranian Red Crescent reported the deaths of five individuals, including one child, and injuries to more than 60 people. The U.S. military has confirmed 18 service member deaths have occurred during the conflict.
The conflict has broader economic impacts on international markets. Shipping data from Lloyd's List Intelligence shows that transits through the Strait of Hormuz fell to 102 last week, down from a pre-war average of 130 or more per day. Vance noted that while efforts have been made to avert a global crisis, U.S. gas prices averaged $4.14 per gallon as of Thursday.
Vance stated that the Trump administration will not enter negotiations with Iran until attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz stop. The administration is also focused on preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. As for the investigation into the wedding strike, the Pentagon has not yet released a timeline for a full report, though a similar inquiry into a February 28 strike on a school in Minab that killed 156 people remains private.