Vance‘s comments also underscored the growing reality that the war now centers on control of the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has forced to the top of the negotiating agenda.

„I know that oil is down today and it‘s way down from the highs in the early days of the conflict,“ Vance said on Fox News. „That‘s goal number one — keep oil and gas cheap for Americans all over our country.“

„And then obviously goal number two is ensure that Iran never gets a nuclear weapon,“ he added.

The vice president has been among the members of the administration most skeptical of the offensive launched against Iran in late February.