J.D. Vance, the Vice President of the United States, stated in a video interview held on Monday local time: "If the President of the United States decides to stop this and allows Iran to take control of the world's oil supply, the war will soon come to an end."
Analysis of the Political and Economic Situation
Vance made these remarks on the eve of the U.S. midterm elections, when the Trump administration and Republicans are losing their grassroots support and seats due to rising inflation and a war that seems unwarranted and prolonged. He noted: "I don't think any American would want the President to do such a thing!"
Position on Israel and Ukraine
In the continuation of this interview, Vance responded to a question about Trump's support for Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel, stating: "I support American candidates and do not interfere in Israeli elections." He also referred to the issue of Ukraine, saying: "Ukraine must stop bombing Russian energy facilities."
The Vice President of the United States also opposed Ukraine joining NATO, stating: "I don't think Ukraine should become a NATO member." These remarks came as last week, Donald Trump suspended the implementation of sanctions he had signed the previous month, citing a national interest exemption. These sanctions included 500% tariffs on imports from Russia and 100% tariffs on major buyers of Russian oil and gas.
These decisions were made especially after Zelensky, the President of Ukraine, refused to stop attacks on Russian energy facilities. Trump has described these attacks as the cause of global fuel shortages and a sharp rise in gasoline prices in the United States; an issue that holds special political significance shortly before the U.S. midterm elections.
These decisions sparked widespread anger in Ukraine, with officials and supporters considering them a betrayal of the country's efforts to maintain Western pressure on Russia. The President of the United States has repeatedly defended his decision, claiming that Zelensky has no desire to end the war and likely never intended to do so from the beginning, while Ukraine has received billions of dollars in aid from Western countries.
