During a press conference with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, Vance warned that the White House has "military tools in its briefcase" that it has so far chosen not to use, but will be activated if Tehran does not cease its current behavior.
The Vice President linked global security to the stability of energy markets, stating that Washington's goal is to ensure a world where "oil and gas flow freely" so that citizens can heat their homes and travel to work. In this sense, Vance described Iran's actions as "economic terrorism" and clarified that the recent attacks on the Kharg oil island do not represent a change in strategy, but the threat to the rest of the energy and industrial infrastructure remains in place until the deadline expires.
Despite Vance's assurance that the United States has largely achieved its military objectives since the offensive began on February 28, President Trump's rhetoric has reached an unprecedented level of aggression. Through his social network 'Truth Social', the American president issued an apocalyptic warning by stating that "tonight an entire civilization will die, never to return", in direct reference to the Iranian state. "I don't want that to happen, but it probably will," Trump added in his message.
While "intense negotiations" are expected in the final hours, the Trump administration maintains its position of not attacking critical infrastructure targets until the time limit is reached, unless the Iranians present a proposal that Washington can support. The uncertainty about the region's future is total, with the energy market and the survival of millions of people pending a decision from Tehran in the coming minutes.