US Prioritizes Lower Oil Prices Over Iran’s Nuclear Program, Says Vice President Vance

The United States' top priority in its conflict with Iran is no longer focused primarily on Tehran's nuclear program but on bringing down oil prices for American consumers, Vice President J.D. Vance has said.

According to an AFP report published on Friday, Vance's remarks came a day after he and U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent outlined Washington's latest approach to the conflict. Bessent said the United States would soon impose a new round of economic sanctions on Tehran aimed at increasing pressure on the Iranian government.

Analysts say Iran has gained significant strategic leverage in the conflict by restricting oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy route. President Donald Trump had consistently maintained that preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons was the central objective of the war. However, recent statements from senior U.S. officials suggest that ensuring the free flow of oil through the Strait has become Washington's immediate priority.

In an interview with Fox News, Vance said keeping oil and gasoline prices low for American consumers is now the administration's "number one" goal, while preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon has become the second priority. He stressed that restoring unrestricted oil transportation through the Strait of Hormuz is essential to achieving that objective.

The comments underscore how the conflict has increasingly centered on control of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping lane through which a significant share of the world's oil exports passes. Continued disruptions to maritime traffic have fueled concerns over global energy supplies and rising fuel prices.