White House says not considering nuclear weapons against Iran after Vance’s ‘got toolkit’ remarks

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3 min readUpdated: Apr 7, 2026 09:12 PM ISTJD Vance spoke on Iran war during his visit to Hungary . (Photo: AP)US Vice President JD Vance on Tuesday warned Iran that Washington has so far not used “tools which are there in our toolkit” and that President Donald Trump’s administration can decide to use them if the Islamic Republic doesn’t agree to a ceasefire proposal and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.However, the White House called out against the claims made on social media which said that Vance was allegedly referring “US using nuclear weapons in Iran.” “Literally nothing Vice President Vance said here “implies” this, you absolute buffoons,” the White House said in a post on X.Literally nothing @VP said here “implies” this, you absolute buffoons https://t.co/7JU3wXMaWX— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) April 7, 2026The vice president said that there’ll be more strikes on Tehran if the Iranians “don’t change their course of conduct,” however, he added that he was “hopeful” negotiations would avoid any more deployment of “tools”.“I hope they make the right response,” says @VP on Iran.“They’ve got to know, we’ve got tools in our toolkit that we so far haven’t decided to use. @POTUS can decide to use them, and he will decide to use them if the Iranians don’t change their course of conduct.” pic.twitter.com/UUiQ5SdEO5— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) April 7, 2026During his visit to Hungary, Vance said that “The United States has largely accomplished its military objectives,” and added that there’ll be a “lot of negotiations between now and then” when the US deadline for Iran to finalise a deal and accept US’ proposal ends at 5:30am Wednesday.“So, they’ve got to know: we’ve got tools in our toolkit that we so far haven’t decided to use. The President of the United States can decide to use them, and he will decide to use them if the Iranians don’t change their course of conduct,” Vance said at a joint press briefing with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban in Budapest.Vance did not elaborate the “tools” he talked about which the Washington has not used in its military operation against Tehran till now.“What we really want is a world where oil and gas is flowing freely, where people can afford to heat their homes and cool their homes, where people can afford to transport themselves to work,” Vance said.The Express Global Desk at The Indian Express delivers authoritative, verified, and context-driven coverage of key international developments shaping global politics, policy, and migration trends. The desk focuses on stories with direct relevance for Indian and global audiences, combining breaking news with in-depth explainers and analysis. A major focus area of the desk is US immigration and visa policy, including developments related to student visas, work permits, permanent residency pathways, executive actions, and court rulings. The Global Desk also closely tracks Canada’s immigration, visa, and study policies, covering changes to study permits, post-study work options, permanent residence programmes, and regulatory updates affecting migrants and international students. All reporting from the Global Desk adheres to The Indian Express’ editorial standards, relying on official data, government notifications, court documents, and on-record sources. The desk prioritises clarity, accuracy, and accountability, ensuring readers can navigate complex global systems with confidence. Core Team The Express Global Desk is led by a team of experienced journalists and editors with deep expertise in international affairs and migration policy: Aniruddha Dhar – Senior Assistant Editor with extensive experience in global affairs, international politics, and editorial leadership. Nischai Vats – Deputy Copy Editor specialising in US politics, US visa and immigration policy, and policy-driven international coverage. Mashkoora Khan – Sub-editor focusing on global developments, with a strong emphasis on Canada visa, immigration, and study-related policy coverage. ... Read MoreStay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram© IE Online Media Services Pvt LtdTags:JD VanceUS Iran tensionsAdvertisementLoading Recommendations...