Washington: The White House on Tuesday issued a sharp denial regarding claims that US Vice President JD Vance had suggested the United States might employ nuclear weapons in its ongoing military campaign against Iran.

The controversy arose after Vance commented on the array of military options available to enforce a high-stakes ultimatum issued by US President Donald Trump. Vance noted that American forces possess certain capabilities they "so far haven't decided to use," a statement that prompted immediate speculation from political opponents.

An account affiliated with former Vice President Kamala Harris quickly characterised the remarks as an implication that the Trump administration "might use nuclear weapons" to achieve its objectives in the Middle East.

Combative Response

The White House utilised social media to dismiss the accusation in unusually blunt terms. Responding directly to the post from the Harris-linked account on X, the administration's official handle wrote: "Literally nothing @VP said here 'implies' this, you absolute buffoons."

While the administration has maintained that "all options are on the table" to ensure the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, officials have consistently pushed back against the notion that a nuclear escalation is being actively considered.

Escalating Rhetoric

The denial follows a series of aggressive statements from the executive branch. President Trump has warned of the "complete demolition" of Iranian infrastructure if his Tuesday night deadline for a ceasefire and maritime concessions is not met.

Vance’s comments were intended to highlight the untapped conventional power of the U.S. military, according to administration aides. However, the interpretation by the Harris camp reflects growing concern among critics regarding the potential for the conflict to spiral into a broader humanitarian or atomic catastrophe.

As of Tuesday evening, the Pentagon has confirmed it is prepared to execute a "wide wave of attacks" on Iranian energy and transport hubs, though it has provided no indication that the mission profile includes non-conventional ordnance.

With inputs from AFP