US Vice President JD Vance has said that Washington is investigating reports that a US air strike struck a wedding gathering in southern Iran, while insisting that American forces do not deliberately target civilians.
“I’m extremely sceptical of this,” Vance said of Iranian state media reports alleging that the strike hit a wedding celebration, saying he had been briefed on the investigation but did not yet have information establishing whether US forces were responsible.
“What I can say with 100 percent confidence is that, unlike the IRGC, the United States never targets civilians in combat,” Vance said on Thursday.
“We never will do that. We never have done that.”
Vance said civilian casualties can occur during military operations, adding, “Unfortunately, obviously, sometimes things happen.”
He added that when US forces make mistakes, the military investigates them and seeks to learn from them. The US military has separately said it is reviewing the reports.
Iran reports 18 killed, 142 wounded
Iranian Health Ministry spokesperson Hossein Kermanpour said at least 18 people were killed and 142 wounded in US strikes between August 30 and September 2.
He said the casualties included four people in Sirik, seven in Khuzestan, four members of the IRGC Aerospace Force in Kermanshah and three Basij members on Lavan Island.
Kermanpour also said at least 50 people were wounded at a wedding gathering in Sirik. Other Iranian officials have reported four people killed and dozens wounded in the strike on the gathering.
The reports have drawn international concern, with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres saying he was “deeply alarmed” by reports of civilian casualties, including the strike that allegedly hit the wedding.
No talks until Iran stops targeting ships
Vance also said Washington is not currently negotiating with Tehran and would not resume talks unless Iran stops attacking commercial shipping.
“The message to the Iranians is simple,” he said. “You’ve got to stop shooting at commercial shipping.”
He rejected calls for a fixed timetable, arguing that a deadline could allow Iran to continue attacks while making US strategy predictable.
Vance said the administration was using military, economic, diplomatic and other forms of pressure to protect commercial vessels and keep oil and gas moving through the Strait of Hormuz.
He said about 15 million barrels of oil had passed through the strategic waterway despite the conflict.
Vance said the broader US objectives were to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and avoid a global energy crisis, arguing that US military operations had limited the impact of the conflict on global energy markets.
