Trending
WASHINGTON, October 16, 2026: US Vice President JD Vance has suggested that he may have disagreed with President Donald Trump over the war with Iran, while Washington intensified economic pressure on Tehran amid continued attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
In an interview aired Friday on a political talk show hosted by former White House spokesman Sean Spicer, Vance acknowledged the possibility of a disagreement with Trump over the conflict.
“Even if you disagree with him on that one issue, you can have that disagreement. And I think I have had that disagreement,” Vance said.
His remarks came during a discussion about his relationship with conservative commentator Tucker Carlson, a former Trump ally who has strongly criticised the war.
Carlson has argued that the conflict serves Israeli rather than American interests and conflicts with Trump’s pledge to avoid costly foreign military interventions.
Vance described Carlson as “very, very angry” about the war. He added that they had discussed the issue privately and publicly.
“He and I have had that conversation in private, in public. I know how he feels, and I understand,” Vance said.
However, Vance also defended Trump’s broader political record, urging Carlson not to dismiss the president’s other policies because of disagreements over the conflict.
“What I’ve said to Tucker is don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater … Aren’t closed borders and ending the ridiculous anti-white racial discrimination in our university admissions, aren’t these things worth actually acknowledging that Donald Trump has done a lot of good?”
Meanwhile, US Central Command (CENTCOM) Commander Admiral Brad Cooper said Washington’s campaign was restricting Iran’s oil revenue and limiting its ability to finance military activities.
In a video message on Friday, Cooper said US efforts focused on restricting Iranian oil exports, disrupting digital financing and weakening the ability of Iran’s security forces to pay their personnel.
“As a point of emphasis, with the exception of the humanitarian assistance we’ve allowed in, Iran has no exports and no imports by sea,” Cooper said.
Cooper claimed US forces had prevented Iran from exporting at least $25 billion worth of crude oil in recent months.
He also said US authorities had helped freeze nearly $350 million in cryptocurrency assets.
“CENTCOM has also supported US interagency partners in freezing nearly $350 million in digital cryptocurrency assets, further constricting Iran’s ability to fund terrorism or replace weapons and factories that we destroy,” he said.
According to Cooper, Iran-aligned groups operating across the region had begun withholding payments to fighters and redirecting funds to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
He added that the IRGC was also facing difficulties paying its personnel.
“The Islamic regime is clearly feeling the economic pain, and the IRGC is increasingly showing signs of greater desperation as a result,” Cooper said.
The figures and assessments were presented by the US military and were not independently established in the statement.
PANAH Engages CUST Students in Campaign Against Unhealthy Foods and Rising NCDs
Despite the restrictions on Iranian maritime trade, Cooper said commercial shipping continued through the Strait of Hormuz.
He accused Iran of attacking commercial vessels and said US forces were working with regional partners and the shipping industry to strengthen maritime security.
“Let me be clear: the Strait of Hormuz is controlled by the United States and our regional partners, not Iran, and it remains open for business,” Cooper said.
According to Cooper, approximately 400 merchant ships had transited the waterway during the previous seven days.
He also said US forces had assisted Gulf partners in transporting more than 100 million barrels of crude oil through the strait during the same period. He put the total volume transported with US assistance in recent months at more than 1.3 billion barrels.
However, separate figures published by the UK Maritime Trade Operations agency show that shipping activity remains significantly below pre-conflict levels.
The UK Maritime Trade Operations agency (UKMTO) reported that traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remained approximately 70% below pre-conflict levels.
In its weekly overview, the agency recorded 125 outbound and 129 inbound transits over seven days. The previous week’s figures were 129 outbound and 146 inbound transits.
UKMTO also reported 12 attacks on vessels during the week. Ten incidents occurred in the Strait of Hormuz, while one was reported in the Gulf and another in the Gulf of Oman.
According to the agency, six vessels continued their journeys or reached port. One vessel was lost, two were disabled or not under command, and three had unconfirmed outcomes.
The agency also warned that the actual number of attacks could be higher because many targeted vessels had not reported incidents.
UKMTO said it had recorded 84 incidents in the Strait of Hormuz since the conflict began in late February.
One of the reported incidents involved a container ship struck by an unidentified projectile near Ras Shaykh Masud on October 13.
UKMTO said the vessel caught fire and sank the following day. All crew members were evacuated, according to the agency.
The incident came amid growing risks to commercial vessels navigating the strategic waterway.
The Strait of Hormuz is a major route for global oil and commodity shipments. Continued disruption has raised concerns about maritime safety, energy supplies and international trade.
Separately, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy said an oil supertanker had struck a naval mine in the Strait of Hormuz, causing a major explosion and fire.
In a statement carried by the semi-official Tasnim News Agency, the IRGC Navy said the vessel was carrying more than two million barrels of crude oil when it attempted to cross the waterway.
Iranian officials described the tanker as a “rogue” vessel that had switched off its navigation and radar systems. They also alleged that it had tried to use US military support to transport goods through the strait.
However, the statement did not identify the vessel, its owner or its flag. It also provided no details about possible casualties or the extent of the damage.
The claim could not be independently confirmed from the information provided.
The tanker allegation is separate from UKMTO’s report of the container ship that sank on October 14 after being struck by an unidentified projectile.
The conflict began with US and Israeli attacks against Iran on February 28, followed by a ceasefire in April. Fighting later resumed as negotiations stalled, according to the supplied account.
The two sides subsequently signed a framework agreement in June, but tensions have continued over security, maritime access and Iran’s economic activities.
The latest developments highlight the competing claims surrounding control of the Strait of Hormuz. While Washington says its operations are restricting Iranian trade and keeping commercial routes open, UKMTO’s figures indicate that shipping remains well below pre-conflict levels.
With attacks on vessels continuing, the security of the waterway remains a major concern for energy markets and global trade.
[…] Vance Hints at Disagreement With Trump Over Iran War as Hormuz Shipping Risks Rise […]