"I wouldn't call it a war," Vance said during a press briefing at the White House on Thursday, according to CNN.
There are no active battles going on.
On the same day, however, sirens sounded in Kuwait as air defenses shot down incoming Iranian missiles and drones. On Wednesday, Iranian projectiles were also shot down over Jordan and Bahrain. The Iranian attacks were said to have been in response to US strikes earlier in the week.
Vice President Vance blamed Iran's continued attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz. He would not answer the question of when the fighting might end.
"You'll have to ask the Iranians about that."
