Vance says he doesn't have timeline to end ongoing conflict with Iran

When asked whether he's been briefed on the reported deadly US attack on a wedding celebration in Iran this week, US Vice President JD Vance claims with "100% confidence" that the United States "never targets civilians in combat" but "sometimes things happen."

Also during Thursday's White House press briefing, Vance tells a journalist that he won't set an "artificial timeline" on ending the ongoing conflict.

He puts finger at Tehran for the soaring gas prices which now linger at above 4 US dollars per gallon, saying he won't make a promise about when they might come down.

"I wouldn't call it a war. Right now, there's no active shooting. But when you ask, when will this end? You're asking me a question like, when will the Iranians stop shooting at ships? I think the reality is, I don't know the answer to that question. You would have to ask the Iranians. And our attitude is we're not going to set an artificial timeline..."

Vance adds "what I would say is it would be irresponsible for us to write out our strategy and our timeline for an Iranian nation that simply cannot honour its commitments and cannot stop shooting at commercial ships."

In the Iranian port town of Kuhestak, mourners are seen carrying caskets of victims who Iranian media says died from a US missile strike targeting a telecommunications tower there. The death toll raises to five on Thursday. Bereaved families have called on authorities to respond.

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu maintains that toppling the Iranian regime is still their "central mission" and "within reach."

He tells Israel's military general staff at a Jewish New Year event that Iran's leadership is "weaker than ever" and removing the threat "once and for all" is not impossible.