"The idea that we’re going to be in a Middle Eastern war for years with no end in sight — there is no chance that will happen," Vance told The Washington Post on Thursday.
While it remains uncertain whether the US president will choose to further pursue the diplomatic path in talks with Iran, or opt for the military option, Vance believes that airstrikes, even if greater in scope than the previous ones in June, would not escalate into a full-blown conflict.
Vance said he still views himself as a "skeptic of foreign military interventions," but added that "Just because one president screwed up a military conflict doesn’t mean we can never engage in military conflict again."
"I think we all prefer the diplomatic option," the vice-president said. "But it really depends on what the Iranians do and what they say," he continued.
Iran and the US have held three rounds of talks on the Iranian nuclear issue. At present, both sides are drafting proposals for a possible agreement.